By Impunity Watch Africa

Charles Taylor, the former leader of Liberia from 1997 to 2003, is currently awaiting trial for 11 counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other serious violations of international humanitarian law including mass murder, mutilations, rape, sexual slavery, and the use of child soldiers.  All counts stem from his role in the Sierra Leone civil war.   He was indicted by the Special Court for Sierra Leone in March 2003 and arrested in Nigeria in March 2006.  The Special Court will conduct the trial, however they requested permission in June 2006 for it to take place in the International Criminal Court in The Hague.  The United Nations Security Council unanimously agreed and Taylor was subsequently transferred to the Netherlands where he is currently awaiting his June 4 trial.

Taylor played a large role in the Sierra Leone civil war, trading diamonds for guns with rebel leader Foday Sankoh and providing support and advice to Sam Bockarie. Taylor’s administration is also charged with harboring members of Al-Qaeda sought in connection with the 1998 bombings of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Charles Taylor- Preacher, Warlord, President – 13 July 2009

AllAfrica – UN-Backed Court in Sierra Leone Unveils Start Date for Trial of Former Leader – 08 May 2007

Trial Watch – Charles Taylor – May 2007

Human Rights Watch – Charles Taylor Hague Trial Must Be Accessible – 19 June 2006

BBC – Taylor Trial to Be Out of Africa – 16 June 2006