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.
Abdul Tejan-Cole is Executive Director of the African Studies Association. A noted human rights lawyer and activist, he was the Commissioner of Sierra Leone’s Anti-Corruption Commission between 2007 and 2010. He served as Deputy Director at the International Center for Transitional Justice’s Cape Town Office, and worked as an Adviser and Component Manager for Law...
John Caulker is the Executive Director and founder of Fambul Tok, a nongovernmental organisation in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Fambul Tok was established in 2007 in order to promote peace in post-civil war Sierra Leone through storytelling. Fambul Tok centres the idea of solving problems through community building and restorative justice, as opposed to the western...
Makmid Kamara is a human rights leader, transitional justice practitioner, development communications expert and social justice leader with almost 20 years’ professional experience.