By: Momodou Justice Darboe
Liberian President Joseph Boakai last week signed an executive order for the establishment of a war crimes court for Liberia’s two bloody civil wars but the question is: Will former Gambian rebel combatants be extradited to Liberia to face the proposed war crimes court?
The late Abdoulie Sonko of Nuimi Berending in the North Bank Region of The Gambia, Balo Kanteh of Pakalinding in the Gambia’s Lower River Region, John Dampha of Tanji in the West Coast Region of The Gambia, Kabiro Demba of Siffoe in the Gambia’s West Coast Region, Sulayman Sarr of Banjul, Yankuba Samateh of Kiang Jali in the Lower River Region, Sheriff-Ba Jobe of Karanta village in the Lower River Region, Suwandi Camara(village unknown), among other Gambians, have reportedly held key command positions in Charles Taylor’s National Patriotic Front of Liberia(NPFL).
At the time of writing this article, the scale of the involvement of the former Gambian rebel fighters in the rape, torture, maiming and killing in Liberia’s sanguinary wars could not be established by this medium but the ex-combatants are likely to be of interest to the proposed court.
Some of the former Gambian combatants have privately and publicly claimed to have played crucial roles in promoting Charles Taylor’s battlefield ambitions.
About 250,000 people were killed in Liberia’s two civil wars between 1989 and 2003. Thousands were also maimed and raped as warlords battled for control.
President Boakai hopes the war crime court will promote national convalescence and bring about accountability and justice.
For more on the proposed war crimes court, see page 5.