- The Appeals Chamber of the UN backed Special Court for Sierra Leone has upheld the long sentences it had earlier imposed on the three leaders of the defunct ruling Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC).
The three - Alex Tamba Brima, Brima Bazzy Kamara and Santigie Borbor Kanu - were convicted last June on 11 of the 14 counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity and other violations of international humanitarian law.
Brima and Kanu were each sentenced to 50 years in prison while Kamara received 45 years.
Unsatisfied with the outcome of the case, the ex-junta leaders filed an appeal.
But the presiding judge and President of Sierra Leone's war crimes court, Justice Gelega King, had upheld the judgment and sentence of the trial chamber because it was "pursuant to Section 102 of procedure and evidence."
The convicts are due to serve their jail terms in an undisclosed African country.
The prosecution team also contested an earlier sentence the court imposed on leaders of the former civil defence forces [Kamajor fighters], arguing that their jail term did not march with their committed crimes.
Meanwhile, the trial of the former rebel-turned-President of Liberia, continues at The Hague, with the 18th prosecution witness appearing on the witness box on Thursday. Charles Taylor has been tried for his alleged involvement in Sierra Leone's civil war.
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