In March 1991, a growing rebel force in neighboring Liberia known as the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) invaded Sierra Leone, commencing one of the most violent civil wars in modern history. With the support of Liberian President Charles Taylor, RUF Commander Foday Sankoh recruited Sierra Leonean youths struggling with unemployment and lack of access to...
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Sierra Leone (2000-2004) was tasked with investigating violations and abuses of human rights from the 1991 armed conflict until the signing of the Lomé Peace Agreement in 1999. The commission aimed to investigate key events during that period and patterns of human rights violations while restoring dignity to victims...
Through the ECOWAS peace plan for Sierra Leone the Parties agreed to the reinstatement of the legitimate Government of President Tejan Kabbah within a period of six months, cessation of hostilities, DDR of combatants, return of refugees and IDPs, unconditional immunities and guarantees from prosecution to all involved in the events of 25 May 1997...
The Parties to the Lomé Peace Agreement agreed to find a transitional arrangement to incorporate the RUF/SL into governance, including by transforming FUR/SL into a political party, enabling members of RUF/SL to hold public office, and the establishment of a broad-based Government of National Unity, establishment of a Commission for the Consolidation of Peace, Commission...
The Parties to the Abidjan Peace Agreement agreed on the need for genuine national unity and reconciliation to end the fratricidal war in Sierra Leone, popular participation in governance and full respect for human rights and humanitarian laws. The Parties agreed to cease hostilities, to ensure the establishment and consolidation of a just peace.
From 1991 to 2002, a civil war raged between pro-government forces and rebel groups in Sierra Leone. Conflict-related sexual violence (CSVR) was pervasive during the war. Sierra Leonean women and girls were subjected to widespread and systematic sexual violence perpetrated by rebel groups and, to a lesser extent, pro-government and peacekeeping forces (HRW, 2003). From...