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Negotiating Peace in Sierra Leone: Confronting the Justice Challenge
Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue rDecembeerp 2007 ort Negotiating peace in Sierra Leone: Confronting the justice challenge Priscilla Hayner Report The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue is an independent and impartial foundation, Contents based in Geneva, that promotes and facilitates 1. Introduction and overview 5 dialogue to resolve armed conflicts and reduce civilian suffering. 2. Background to the 1999 talks 8 114, rue de lausanne 3. Participation in the Lomé talks: April–July 1999 10 ch-1202 geneva 4. Amnesty in the Lomé process and Accord 12 switzerland The context 12 [email protected] t: + 41 22 908 11 30 Rapid agreement on a blanket amnesty 13 f: +41 22 908 11 40 A second look at the amnesty: was it unavoidable? 16 www.hdcentre.org The amnesty and the UN and other international participants 17 © Copyright 5. Other justice issues at Lomé 19 Henry Dunant Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, 2007 A Truth and Reconciliation Commission 19 Reproduction of all or Provisions for reparations 20 part of this publication The security forces and demobilisation of combatants 20 may be authorised only Reaching an agreement on power-sharing 21 with written consent and acknowledgement of the 6. After the agreement: a difficult peace 22 source. Slow implementation and near collapse of the accord 23 The International Center The Special Court for Sierra Leone 25 for Transitional Justice Implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission 26 assists countries pursuing Judicial reform efforts 28 accountability for past mass Creation of a new Human Rights Commission 28 atrocity or human rights abuse. It assists in the development Demobilisation, and reform of the armed forces and police 29 of integrated, comprehensive, and localized approaches to 7. -
Profile of Internal Displacement : Sierra Leone
PROFILE OF INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT : SIERRA LEONE Compilation of the information available in the Global IDP Database of the Norwegian Refugee Council (as of 15 October, 2003) Also available at http://www.idpproject.org Users of this document are welcome to credit the Global IDP Database for the collection of information. The opinions expressed here are those of the sources and are not necessarily shared by the Global IDP Project or NRC Norwegian Refugee Council/Global IDP Project Chemin Moïse Duboule, 59 1209 Geneva - Switzerland Tel: + 41 22 799 07 00 Fax: + 41 22 799 07 01 E-mail : [email protected] CONTENTS CONTENTS 1 PROFILE SUMMARY 6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 6 CAUSES AND BACKGROUND OF DISPLACEMENT 9 BACKGROUND TO THE CONFLICT 9 CHRONOLOGY OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS SINCE INDEPENDENCE (1961 - 2000) 9 HISTORICAL OUTLINE OF THE FIRST EIGHT YEARS OF CONFLICT (1991-1998) 13 CONTINUED CONFLICT DESPITE THE SIGNING OF THE LOME PEACE AGREEMENT (JULY 1999-MAY 2000) 16 PEACE PROCESS DERAILED AS SECURITY SITUATION WORSENED DRAMATICALLY IN MAY 2000 18 RELATIVELY STABLE SECURITY SITUATION SINCE SIGNING OF CEASE-FIRE AGREEMENT IN ABUJA ON 10 NOVEMBER 2000 20 CIVIL WAR DECLARED OVER FOLLOWING THE FULL DEPLOYMENT OF UNAMSIL AND THE COMPLETION OF DISARMAMENT (JANUARY 2002) 22 REGIONAL EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN PEACE IN SIERRA LEONE (2002) 23 SIERRA LEONEANS GO TO THE POLLS TO RE-ELECT AHMAD TEJAN KABBAH AS PRESIDENT (MAY 2002) 24 SIERRA LEONE’S SPECIAL COURT AND TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION START WORK (2002-2003) 25 MAIN CAUSES OF DISPLACEMENT 28 COUNTRYWIDE DISPLACEMENT -
Sierra Leone and Conflict Diamonds: Establshing a Legal Diamond Trade and Ending Rebel Control Over the Country's Diamond Resources
SIERRA LEONE AND CONFLICT DIAMONDS: ESTABLSHING A LEGAL DIAMOND TRADE AND ENDING REBEL CONTROL OVER THE COUNTRY'S DIAMOND RESOURCES "Controlof resourceshas greaterweight than uniform administrativecontrol over one's entire comer of the world, especially in places such as Sierra Leone where valuable resources are concentratedand portable.' I. INTRODUCTION Sierra Leone2 is in the midst of a civil war that began in 1991, when the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) invaded the country from neighboring Liberia.3 RUF rebels immediately sought control over one of the country's richest resources--diamonds.4 Since gaining control over the most productive diamond fields, the rebels have at their fingertips an endless supply of wealth with which to fund their insurgencies against the Government of Sierra Leone.' The RUF rebels illicitly trade diamonds for arms in open smuggling operations. 6 Diamonds sold by the RUF, in order to fund the rebel group's military action in opposition to Sierra Leone's legitimate and internationally recognized government, are called "conflict diamonds."7 1. WIulIAM RENO, WARLORD POLITICS AND AFRICAN STATES 140 (1998). 2. Sierra Leone is located on the west coast of Africa north of Liberia and south of Guinea. The country has 4,900,000 residents, almost all of whom belong to one of 13 native African tribes. Country: Sierra Leone, Sept. 3,2000, availableat LEXIS, Kaleidoscope File. One of the primary economic activities in Sierra Leone is mining of its large diamond deposits that are a major source of hard currency. Countries that predominantly import goods from Sierra Leone include Belgium, the United States, and India. -
SCSL Press Clippings
SPECIAL COURT FOR SIERRA LEONE OUTREACH AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE PRESS CLIPPINGS Enclosed are clippings of local and international press on the Special Court and related issues obtained by the Outreach and Public Affairs Office as at: Monday, 14 September 2009 Press clips are produced Monday through Friday. Any omission, comment or suggestion, please contact Martin Royston-Wright Ext 7217 2 Local News “ Taylor Killed Sam Bockarie”…/ The Exclusive Page 3 Taylor Denies Killing Samm Bockarie / Concord Times Page 4 Taylor Refutes Prosecution Testimony / The Spectator Page 5 Taylor Said Prosecution Allegation is Nonsensical / Standard Times Page 6 Reparation is the Hallmark to Reconciliation / The Senator Pages 7-8 Sierra Leonean Becomes Acting Prosecutor of the Special Court / Cotton Tree News Page 9 International News Taylor Rebuts Prosecution Evidence About His Role in Sierra Leone Conflict / Charlestaylortrial.org Pages 10-12 Report From The Hague / BBC World Service Trust Page 13 Taylor Denies Execution of Bockarie & Family / The Analyst Page 14 UNMIL Public Information Office Media Summary / UNMIL Pages 15-18 Stephen Rapp: Obama's Point Man on War Crimes / The Times Pages 19-21 War Crimes Court Convicts French Former Spokeswoman of Contempt… / Breaking News 24/7 Page 22 Florence Hartmann Guilty of Contempt of Yugoslavia Tribunal / Radio Netherlands Worldwide Page 23 UN Accuses Congo of Possible War Crimes / Voice of America Pages 24-25 International Criminal Court Eyes Role Beyond War-Crimes Trials / The Christian Science Monitor Pages -
IDRC Doctoral Research Award No
IDRC Doctoral Research Award No. 103342-9990675-067 Technical Report Submitted By: M. Zubairu Wai Date: 12 July 2008 Project: Understanding Contemporary Conflicts in Africa: The Sierra Leone Civil War and its Challenge to the Dominant Representations of African Conflicts Introduction: The aim of this research was two fold: first, it sought to go beyond the immediate impact of policy, and develop an epistemological critique of knowledge on contemporary African conflicts and assess the impact of such knowledge on the formulation of policy; and second to develop alternative ways of looking at such conflicts in order to allow for the reformulation of extant policies as well as the articulation of alternative ones. It started from the basic assumption (as suggested by evidence) that the policies derived from the dominant studies on African conflicts were not producing their desired results where they are being implemented, a proposition that was leading to a questioning of the knowledge and the analytical frameworks on which they are based. The research therefore sought to address this problem by (a) developing a critique of the existing body of knowledge on African conflicts; and (b) suggesting alternative interpretations that would help us better understand these conflicts. Using the Sierra Leone civil war as its empirical case, it sought to investigate: (a) what the modalities of the dominant perspectives on contemporary African conflicts were; (b) Who produces them, how and why?; (c) what were included and left out in the knowledge produced (d) what effects were these knowledge having on the articulation of policy towards Africa; what these policies were and what they sought to achieve; and finally, (f) how an alternative reading of the Sierra Leone civil war might lead to the formulation of better understanding and policies. -
Sierra Leone: Critical Discussion on Conϐlict Resolution and the United Nation Mission
Conlict Studies Quarterly Sierra Leone: Critical Discussion on Conϐlict Resolution and the United Nation Mission Dilan CIFTCI Abstract: The aim of the current study is to explore the conceptual development of African civil conlicts with regards to ive global dimensions in the African Societies. Sierra Leone Conlict and Conlict Resolution in African civil conlict studies presents a unique opportunity for the investigation of African culture due to its alive and luid effects of the present situation. Currently, there is no comprehensive study that integrates the conceptual development of global dimen- sions of African civil conlicts through criticising the conlict resolution and UNAMSIL at the same time. In order to provide a conceptual evaluation of the ive major global dimensions of African civil conlicts Sierra Leone conlict, conlict resolution and UNAMSIL were elaborated under the name of politics and contemporary issues in UN peacekeeping operations. The current criticism suggests that African civil culture related to the socio-economic issues have an impact on the conlict resolution reported over time by UN peacekeeping operations. During the chosen case, the analysis of national identity, weak governance structure and ethnic tensions were distinctive for Sierra Leone conlict and its aftermath. Keywords: Sierra Leone conlict; conlict resolution; neo-patrimonial state; African conlicts; UNAMSIL. 1. Introduction To begin with, an African civil conlict has Dilan CIFTCI ive major global dimensions. These are the Assist. Prof. Dr. lack of national identity, weak governance Near East University structure, the corruption and neo-patrimo- Faculty of Communication nial state, ethnic tensions and the lumpen E-mail: [email protected] culture (Pham, 2006, p. -
Journal 3.1 Lamin
120 JOURNAL OF AFRICAN ELECTIONS POST-CONFLICT ELECTIONS, PEACEBUILDING AND DEMOCRACY CONSOLIDATION IN SIERRA LEONE By Abdul Rahman Lamin Dr Abdul Rahman Lamin is a lecturer in the Department of International Relations and a Research Fellow at the Centre for Africa’s International Relations (CAIR) at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg Department of International Relations, University of the Witwatersrand Private Bag 3 Wits 2050 Tel: +27(0)11 717.4490; Fax: +27(0)11 717.4389 e-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT The viability of long-term peace and prospects for the consolidation of democracy in Sierra Leone is dependent on a number of internal and external factors. After two successful elections since the end of conflict in 2002, it is fair to suggest that the country is on the path of consolidating ‘democratic gains’. A third successful multiparty election, in 2007, would go a long way to affirming the notion that Sierra Leoneans are becoming comfortable with the idea of electing their representatives through competitive elections. INTRODUCTION On 22 May 2004 Sierra Leoneans went to the polls to elect local government officials. Although at the time of writing the full results had not been announced by the National Electoral Commission (NEC), early indications suggest a mixed outcome. On the one hand, projections indicate that the ruling Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) may end up securing control over a majority of the new local government councils; on the other it appears that the main opposition All Peoples Congress (APC) may have performed unexpectedly well in some key areas, foreshadowing what could turn out to be a fierce contest between the two long time rivals in 2007, when parliamentary and presidential elections will be held. -
Sierra Leone Assessment
Sierra Leone, Country Information http://194.203.40.90/ppage.asp?section=...erra%20Leone%2C%20Country%20Information SIERRA LEONE ASSESSMENT April 2002 Country Information and Policy Unit I SCOPE OF DOCUMENT II GEOGRAPHY III HISTORY IV STATE STRUCTURES V HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES VI HUMAN RIGHTS - SPECIFIC GROUPS VII HUMAN RIGHTS - OTHER ISSUES ANNEX A: CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS ANNEX B: POLITICAL ORGANISATIONS ANNEX C: PROMINENT PEOPLE REFERENCES TO SOURCE MATERIAL I. SCOPE OF DOCUMENT 1.1. This assessment has been produced by the Country Information & Policy Unit, Immigration & Nationality Directorate, Home Office, from information obtained from a variety of sources. 1.2. The assessment has been prepared for background purposes for those involved in the asylum determination process. The information it contains is not exhaustive, nor is it intended to catalogue all human rights violations. It concentrates on the issues most commonly raised in asylum claims made in the United Kingdom. 1.3. The assessment is sourced throughout. It is intended to be used by caseworkers as a signpost to the source material, which has been made available to them. The vast majority of the source material is readily available in the public domain. 1.4. It is intended to revise the assessment on a 6-monthly basis while the country remains within the top 35 asylum producing countries in the United Kingdom. 1.5. An electronic copy of the assessment has been made available to the following organisations: Amnesty International UK 1 of 43 07/11/2002 5:44 PM Sierra Leone, Country Information http://194.203.40.90/ppage.asp?section=...erra%20Leone%2C%20Country%20Information Immigration Advisory Service Immigration Appellate Authority Immigration Law Practitioners' Association Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants JUSTICE Medical Foundation for the care of Victims of Torture Refugee Council Refugee Legal Centre UN High Commissioner for Refugees 2. -
An Oral History of the Civil War in Sierra Leone Interviewer
An Oral history of the Civil War in Sierra Leone Interviewer: Kyle Hardy Interviewee: Michel duCille Instructor: Mr. Whitman February, 14, 2012 Hardy 3 Table of Contents Interviewee Release Form Interviewer Release Form Statement of Purpose……………………………………………………………………………...4 Biography………………………………………………………………………………………….5 Blood Diamonds: A Decade of Tragedy in Sierra Leone………………………………………..6 Interview Transcription…………………………………………………………………………..13 Analysis Paper…………………………………………………..……………………………….30 Works Consulted…………………………………………………………………………………34 Hardy 4 Statement of Purpose The purpose of this oral history interview is to further understand the horrifying war in Sierra Leone. The civil war, between 1991 and 2002, was rarely reported to news and till remains widely unknown. Though a relatively small country, the horrendous actions taken throughout this war should not be ignored nor forgotten. This interview will serve as a guide for those remain unaware of the horrors of the war and give a first-hand account of Sierra Leone during this time. Hardy 5 Biography of Michel duCille Michael duCille is a Jamaican-American photographer who currently works for the Washington Post in Washington, DC. He spent most of his childhood in Jamaica and describes his time her as “Idyllic”. He father, who was a preacher, instilled in him the values of education, and in 1970, his family moved to Gainesville, Georgia with hopes of improved education and a more stable financial means. He started school in America at Gainesville High school when he was 15. The school he entered also welcomed the first year the school intergraded blacks and whites. His father, who was also a journalist, introduced him to journalism. At the age of 16, he began to take pictures for the newspaper and has been a professional photographer every since. -
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone Accord 9 (2000) ‘Paying the price: the sierra Leone peace process’ Abstract This case study traces and critiques the evolution of the advocates for a return to civilian rule and democratic women’s movement that grew out of the civil war in Sierra elections. Despite – or perhaps because of – the Forum’s Leone. It assesses the achievements and weaknesses success in involving women from across the country, of women’s collective actions, and the reasons why politicians discouraged their continued engagement in despite forming extensive networks for the advancement politics, and women lacked the confidence to withstand of women’s rights the movement fell short of becoming this. Nevertheless, the Forum succeeded in opening up a political force. The author describes the creation of public debate on contentious issues and articulating a the Women’s Forum and how it became one of the chief politically non-partisan, female perspective. Background On the eve of civil war Sierra Leone was on the verge States Monitoring Group peacekeepers. In the latter stages of of collapse. Mismanagement and corruption were rife the war, the RUF’s staying power was largely attributed to its and a vast pool of young people lacked opportunities for control over major diamond fields in the east of the country. education or employment. Against this backdrop a small group of armed Sierra Leoneans crossed over from Liberia By 1995 a military and political stalemate had developed. in 1991 and began to attack border villages. The main The rebel movement lacked widespread support and the armed force that emerged was the Revolutionary United government had lost credibility for not being able to ensure Front (RUF) led by Foday Sankoh and backed by Charles security. -
Sierra Leone Apr2001
SIERRA LEONE COUNTRY ASSESSMENT APRIL 2001 Country Information and Policy Unit CONTENTS 1. SCOPE OF DOCUMENT 1.1 - 1.5 2. GEOGRAPHY 2.1 A. Location, Climate, Population and Language B. Economy 2.2 3. HISTORY A. 1961 – 1996 3.1 - 3.5 B. Armed Insurrections 3.6 - 3.8 C. 1996 - 1997 3.9 - 3.16 4. INSTRUMENTS OF THE STATE A. Judiciary 4.1 - 4.4 B. Security Forces 4.5 C. Police and Prisons 4.6 - 4.8 D. Civil Defence Force 4.9 - 4.11 5. HUMAN RIGHTS 5.1 - 5.4 A. Introduction 5.5 - 5.28 B. Security situation (i). Recent event 5.29 - 5.31 C. Revolutionary United Front 5.32 - 5.36 D. United Nations 5.37 - 5.41 (i). International assistance 5.42 - 5.46 B. SPECIFIC GROUPS (i). Minorities/Ethnicity 5.47 - 5.50 (ii). Women 5.51 - 5.56 (iii).Children 5.57 - 5.62 6. OTHER ISSUES A. Freedom of Association and Assembly 6.1 - 6.4 B. Freedom of the Press 6.5 - 6.11 C. Freedom of Religion 6.12 - 6.14 D. Freedom to Travel and Internal Flight 6.15 - 6.20 ANNEX A: Common Abbreviations/Political Parties ANNEX B: Prominent People ANNEX C: Chronology of Major Events BIBLIOGRAPHY BULLETINS 1. SCOPE OF DOCUMENT 1 1.1. This assessment has been produced by the Country Information & Policy Unit, Immigration & Nationality Directorate, Home Office, from information obtained from a variety of sources. 1.2. The assessment has been prepared for background purposes for those involved in the asylum determination process. -
RECEIVED COURT RECORDS " Pal~ 2004
SCSt.... - 2.00,+ - ''t- - f-r (,+SS-- 51(0) SPECIAL COURT FOR SIERRA LEONE OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR FREETOWN - SIERRA LEONE Before: Judge Bankole Thompson, Presiding Judge Judge Benjamin Mutanga Itoe Judge Pierre Boutet Registrar: Mr. Robin Vincent Date filed: 2 March 2004 THE PROSECUTOR Against SAMUEL HINGA NORMAN MOININA FOFANA ALLIEU KONDEWA CASE NO. SCSL-2004-14-PT PROSECUTION'S PRE-TRIAL BRIEF PURSUANT TO ORDER FOR FILING PRE-TRIAL BRIEFS (UNDER RULES 54 and 73 his) OF 13 FEBRUARY 2004 Office ofthe Prosecutor: Defence Cousel for Samuel Hinga Norman: Luc Cote, James Blyden Jenkins-Johnson James C. Johnson Sulaiman Banja Tejan-Sie Charles A Caruso Quincy Whitaker Mohamed Bangura Timothy Owen Joseph Kamara Adwoa Waife Defence Counsel for Moinina Fofana: Bianca Suciu Michael Pestman Kathryn Howarth Arrow 1. Bockarie Defence Counsel for Allieu Kondewa: Charles Margai SPECIAL COURT FOR SltRRAlW~E RECEIVED COURT RECORDS " PAl~ 2004 . • ,t1·1L.\!i:J~•••••'" NAME.,,,,.~....,..u. SIGN•••#£~~ :. TIME •••(l.J.f...9J;.:..••.•••_•• SPECIAL COURT FOR SIERRA LEONE OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR FREETOWN - SIERRA LEONE THE PROSECUTOR Against SAMUEL HINGA NORMAN MOININA FOFANA ALLIEU KONDEWA CASE NO. SCSL-2004-14-PT PROSECUTION'S PRE-TRIAL BRIEF PURSUANT TO ORDER FOR FILING PRE-TRIAL BRIEFS (UNDER RULES 54 and 73 his) OF 13 FEBRUARY 2004 The Prosecution hereby files a Pre-Trial Briefin the case ofthe Prosecutor Against Samuel Hinga Norman, Moinina Fofana and Allieu Kondewa in accordance with the "Order for filing Pre-Trial Briefs (Under Rules 54 and 73bis)" of 13 February 2004. In accordance with Rule 73bis, the Prosecution would have expected to file its Pre-Trial Briefupon order from the Chamber after the holding ofa Pre-Trial Conference.