The U.N. backed Special Court for the Sierra Leone (SCSL) convicted two militia leaders of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Allieu Kondewa – the “high priest” of the Kamajor rebel group – and Monina Fofana – the national director of the Civil Defense Forces (CDF) – were convicted of war crimes, including murder and the recruiting of child soldiers. The CDF was a paramilitary group who fought for Sierra Leone during the civil war there from 1991 – 2002. It was comprised of members of the Kamajor group of traditional hunters. Some in Sierra Leone credit the group for bringing stability to the region, while others point to its use of blood diamonds and the forcible conscription of child soldiers.
The SCSL had recently convicted three leaders of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) of 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The U.N. backed Special Court convicted the men for "some of the most heinous, brutal and atrocious crimes ever recorded." The charges include 11 counts of terrorism, murder, and rape.
The civil war in Sierra Leone brought the CDF into conflict with the AFRC. Members of the CDF were supporting the official government of Sierra Leone while AFRC was backed by Liberian president, Charles Taylor – himself on trial at The Hague for instigating war crimes. Taylor is suspected of supporting the civil war in Sierra Leone in exchange for diamonds mined in the region.
