Communicating Justice

Leader of RUF Foday Sankoh died in July
2003 in hospital while in UN custody.
Photo © Associated Press Photo / Brenna
Linsley

December 1, 2008
Smiling and confidently gesticulating as though he were giving a lecture, the Former RUF Signal Commander testified that the relationship between the Charles Taylor’s NPFL and Foday Sankoh’s RUF was cordial.

Dauda Fonnie alias Blue Diamond told the court that when the RUF forces attempted to cut the supply route of the Sierra Leonean Army on the Bo- Kenema High in 1991, the Army pushed them out of Sierra Leone into Liberia. 

He said NPFL Units identified as Zimbabwe, Special Task Force, SS Corpra, Death Squad, Black Gadafa and Scorpion went to the aid of the RUF. Dauda who is a member of the Mende ethnic group in Sierra Leone is testifying in Krio.

December 2, 2008
Former Liberian President Charles Taylor is accused of providing the Sierra Leonean Rebel Group, the RUF with arms and ammunition in exchange for diamonds. But how were the arms and ammunition delivered from Liberia to RUF territory in Sierra Leone? Well, an Insider Witness, a Former RUF Signal Commander has identified several routes allegedly used by Mr. Taylor’s Commanders in Liberia in order to transport arms and ammunition to the RUF in Sierra Leone.
Click here to listen to Mariama K. Fornah's report (December 2, 2008)

December 3, 2008
The Insider Witness testifying against Charles Taylor mentions two African States that reportedly supported the RUF Rebels during the decade war in Sierra Leone.
Click here to listen to Mariama K. Fornah's report (December 3, 2008)

December 4, 2008
Defence Lawyer, Terry Munyard has told the Special Court that rebel fighters of the Revolutionary United Front, RUF were not involved in the invasion of the Sierra Leonean Capital, Freetown on January 6, 1999.

When cross-examining the Former RUF Signal Commander Dauda Fornie, Mr. Munyard said the operation of the Freetown invasion was carried out purely by members of the Sierra Leone Army. However, the Prosecution Insider Witness disagreed. Mr. Fornie told the court that the January 6, 1999 Freetown invasion was a joint operation of the AFRC and the RUF.
Click here to listen to Joseph Cheeseman's report (December 4, 2008)

December 5, 2008
The Defence Team has indicated to the Special Court for Sierra Leone that the arms and ammunition used by the RUF did not come from their client, Charles Taylor. Defence Lawyer Terry Munyard told the court that the Libyan Government supported the RUF with huge sums of money for the purchase of arms and ammunition. In court, Mr. Munyard read a letter reportedly written by Corporal Foday Sankoh and asked the witness for confirmation of the alleged Libyan support.
Click here to listen to Joseph Cheeseman's report (December 5, 2008)