- The new president of the UN-backed war crimes court in Sierra Leone, Justice George Gelaga King, is expected in the coming days to make the final call on whether to try former Liberian president Charles Taylor in Sierra Leone or The Hague in the Netherlands.
Taylor faces charges of war crimes in Sierra Leone including murder, rape and providing financial support for Sierra Leone rebel fighters who terrorised civilians, hacking off their hands and feet.
If Justice King decides to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor and push for Taylor’s trial to be moved to The Hague, the indictments will still be served under jurisdiction of the Sierra Leone Special Court but will use the high security facilities of the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
Or, King could make an about turn and lobby to keep the landmark trial in Sierra Leone.
This week the Appeals Chamber of the Special Court dismissed a motion forwarded by Taylor’s lawyers asking the court president to withdraw his predecessor’s request to shift the trial to The Hague. Taylor’s lawyers argue that their client will not get a fair trial there.
The Court dismissed the motion ruling that “at this stage of the proceedings, matters relating to the venue of the Taylor trial are exclusively within the administrative and diplomatic mandate of the president”.
The location of Taylor’s trial has divided Sierra Leoneans. Some are hungry to see an African president brought to justice on African soil, while others fear that his presence could destabilise the country and even the whole sub-region.
Also this week the head of the Nigerian Armed Forces, General Martin-Luther Agwai said the Nigerian army would give evidence against Taylor if invited to do so by the Special Court.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
front page
| news
| countries
| archive
| currencies
| news alerts login
| about afrol News
| contact
| advertise
| español