Sierra Leone’s United Nations-backed Special Court convicted two former leaders of a pro-government militia on Thursday for war crimes, but acquitted them of some of the most serious charges of crimes against humanity.
The two were leaders of the Civil Defence Forces (CDF), which fought for President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah in a 1991 to 2002 civil war. Kabbah is due to stand down after August 11 elections in which his deputy is standing as his chosen successor.
Sam Hinga Norman, Kabbah’s former interior minister and head of the feared Kamajor traditional hunters who dominated the CDF, had also been on trial on the same charges but died in detention from heart failure in February after a routine operation.
Allieu Kondewa, who prosecutors said was the Kamajors’ ”High Priest”, and Moinina Fofana were tried on eight counts of crimes against humanity, war crimes and other offences including using child soldiers.
Both were acquitted of two charges of murder and violence as crimes against humanity, but convicted of war crimes under the Geneva Convention including murder, cruelty and pillage in the judgement, which was read out in court.
Kondewa was also convicted of recruiting child soldiers.
The Special Court for Sierra Leone was set up with UN backing to try some of those deemed most culpable for crimes against humanity in the war, during which drugged-up rebels and militia fighters, often only children themselves, killed, raped and maimed men, women and children.
The court’s most high profile defendant, Charles Taylor, is on trial in The Netherlands for war crimes and crimes against humanity dating from his time as a rebel leader and later president of neighbouring Liberia.
Taylor is charged with instigating murder, rape and terrorism in Sierra Leone where, in return for diamonds mined in the east of the country, he is accused of arming Revolutionary United Front rebels. — Reuters