Foday Sankoh

The Special Court for Sierra Leone indicted Sankoh on seventeen counts involving, notably, terror against civilians, murder, sexual violence, mutilation, child soldiers, abductions, forced labour, pillaging and attacks on UNAMSIL. He died in detention in July 2003 before a trial on the merits could take place; the indictment was subsequently withdrawn.

Attribution

Accused

Human Rights Watch investigations describe systematic rape, abductions of women and girls and their exploitation as sexual slaves by RUF/AFRC forces. Children were among the victims.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

The RUF abducted thousands of children and adults to use them as combatants, porters, forced labourers and, in the case of girls, sexual slaves. After the collapse of the peace process in 2000, previously demobilised children were forcibly recruited again.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

The RUF captured more than 500 members of the United Nations mission, disarmed several contingents and resumed offensive operations. The crisis shattered the Lomé peace process.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

During the AFRC/RUF offensive on Freetown, Human Rights Watch documented mass killings, amputations, rape, abductions, arson and other premeditated attacks on civilians. Some units appeared to specialise in particular forms of atrocity.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Command responsibility

Human Rights Watch documented a campaign of terror in which thousands of civilians were killed or mutilated, notably through amputations, across many regions of the country and particularly around Koidu.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Ahead of the 1996 elections, RUF fighters amputated civilians' hands, telling them that their hands were being cut off so that they could not vote. The practice became one of the movement's most notorious methods of terror.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Under Foday Sankoh's leadership, the Revolutionary United Front entered Sierra Leone from Liberia and launched a rebellion against the government. Human Rights Watch describes a movement that rapidly abandoned its populist rhetoric in favour of a campaign of violence and control over mining resources.

State of the evidence

Well documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

The Lomé Agreement granted Sankoh an absolute pardon and provided a very broad amnesty for combatants. It also appointed him chairman of the Strategic Resources Management Commission, with vice-presidential protocol rank.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

After returning from detention in Nigeria, Sankoh was tried for treason. He was found guilty on seven of the nine counts and sentenced to death.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

Attribution

Accused