Flashback: ECOMOG in Sierra Leone
By Janet Sesay
Center for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL) Sierra Leone has applauded efforts by a combined team of local and international lawyers to ensure justice and accountability for violations committed by forces of the Economic Community of West African Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) in Sierra Leone. The case is to be tried by the Supreme Court, the highest court in the country.
Speaking at a press briefing at their Brook Street office on Tuesday 28th June 2018, the Executive Director Ibrahim Tommy stated that on the 22nd June 2018 the team filed an application with the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone under section 28 of the 1991 constitution.
The plaintiffs are seeking the redress for violation of the constitutional right of nine Sierra Leoneans, relative to alleged abuses by ECOMOG Forces committed against the civilian population of Sierra Leone in 1999.
He said the organisation commends the bravery and determination of the plaintiffs to seek justice and they call for full-scale accountability process in relation to breaches of human right and fundamental freedom committed against civilian population during the period under review.
He added that they are fully confident that justice will be done “and this is truly remarkable effort to address the impunity gap that still exists for years of human rights violation during the war years in Sierra Leone.”
He said the plaintiffs including rape and torture victims, mothers of civilians who were summarily executed have waited for nearly twenty years to see the first genuine effort aimed at giving them sense of closure.
“I am truly happy for them but at the same time excited that this matter will be heard by the highest court in Sierra Leone,” Ibrahim Tommy noted.
It should be noted that notwithstanding the mandate and operation of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, crimes committed by Nigerian armed troops and ECOMOG forces have never been subjected to any international, regional or national investigation in Sierra Leone or Nigeria despite the fact that these were repeatedly promised.
CARL is of the firm belief that the impunity gap that has continued for almost twenty years will finally end “as this is all what the plaintiffs demand of the supreme court of Sierra Leone.”
He said there are other victims but they are only representing those who want to be represented; “and if a victim wants to be represented we must first of all identify the victim to know whether the victim is willing to pursue the matter.”
He disclosed that this is not a new position of the organization but it is a call that has been made to government to address the issue.
He used the occasion to urge everyone especially Supreme Court to ensure that the matter is looked into, noting that no leader must sit and watch violation taken place in the country without investigating and prosecuting offenders.