Breaking the cycle of impunity in Sierra Leone

Rompiendo el ciclo de la impunidad en Sierra Leone

The conflict in Sierra Leone is one of the most brutal to have taken place in the world during the last ten years of the previous century. The parties in the conflict, rather than protecting the civilian population have made them targets and tools of the war. The war took a dimension that flagrantly violated the Human Rights of people thus registering the worst forms of atrocities committed against man by their fellow man.

My presentation will focus but briefly on the causes of the war, the role played by foreigners, the Government, and the rebels in executing atrocious crimes against their fellow and country men. The major thrust of the presentation will highlight the striking and unique balance in the search for peace, justice and reconciliation. The 'blanket amnesty' granted the perpetrators of crimes against humanity in the Lome peace Accord of 1997. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission established by the Sierra Leone parliament and the Special Court to be set up by the United Nations (also moral guarantors to the Lome peace Accord) will be examined to see if these strategies will in any manner contribute to breaking the cycle of impunity in Sierra Leone.