Paris is following Bellinzona in sentencing another former ULIMO Commander to Life imprisonment.

On the 22nd of November 2022, Kunti Kamara, a former ULIMO commander has been sentenced to life imprisonment for crimes against humanity and torture. This trial will mark Liberian judicial history as the first-ever conviction for crimes against humanity connected to the conflicts in West African country from 1989 to 2003. This trial also follows the one of Alieu Kosiah who was sentenced for war crimes in Bellinzona, Switzerland. Similar to the one in Switzerland, this trial also makes French judicial history as the first trial for international crimes committed abroad other than those linked to the Rwandan genocide and is only the 5th trial of this nature to take place in the country. Moreover, due to the exceptional nature of this trial, it was authorized by the President of the Paris ‘Cour d’assises’ to have a full recording of it for the purpose of historical archives. It is exceptional to see the development of international criminal law and the roles of states to combine their jurisdiction to provide justice to victims of the Liberian conflict who have been forgotten by both their government and the international community. However we must not cease such efforts, it is up to states and the international community to continue to condemn individuals who have committed atrocious crimes such as crimes against humanity, genocide, and war crimes in the quest for justice and closure no matter the age of the conflict or the individuals involved. We must not forget and most of all, we must act when possible and this has been displayed by the success of the Kunti K. trial.?

Written by Iona Steger (Picture by Civitas Maxima).

Citations:?

“Kunti Kamara: Former Ulimo Commander Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Crimes against Humanity and Torture.” Civitas Maxima, 3 Nov. 2022, https://civitas-maxima.org/2022/11/02/kunti-kamara-former-ulimo-commander-sentenced-to-life-imprisonment-for-crimes-against-humanity-and-torture/.?