Special Court for Sierra Leone, RUF Trial, Update 2

RUF Trial

Special Court for Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone

English

The Special Court for Sierra Leone opened a new trial session this week with the opening of the joint trial of three of the key leaders of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF). These three individuals, all alleged to have been senior officers and commanders within the RUF, are Issa Sesay, Morris Kallon, and Augustine Gbao. They are charged with eighteen counts of crimes against humanity and other violations of international humanitarian law, their charges including acts of terrorism, collective punishment, extermination, murder, enslavement, and pillage.

As with the case against the Civilian Defense Forces (CDF) that began last month, these three RUF leaders are also specifically charged with the use of child soldiers as a violation of international humanitarian law. Unlike the indictment against the CDF, however, which does not include any charges of sexual violence, the charges against the RUF leaders include four counts of sexual violence, among them charges of rape, sexual slavery, and outrages upon personal dignity