On March 7, 2005, the Special Court of for Sierra Leone (SCSL) opened its final trial against three former members of the country's military junta: Alex Tamba Brima, Brima Bazzy Kamara and Santigie Borbor Kanu. Each of the three members of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council were accused of 14 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity while leading the militia that took over Sierra Leone's government in 1997. The three were convicted, and Kamara was sentenced to serve 45 years, while Brima and Kanu were each sentenced to 50 years.

SCSL seal

Learn more about the proceedings in the SCSL and the laws governing war crimes from the JURIST news archive.

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