What is the Special Court for Sierra Leone?
The Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) is an independent court, set up for suspects of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during Sierra Leone’s 11 year civil war (1991-2002). The court’s jurisdiction covers crimes committed after 30 November 1996.

What happened in Sierra Leone?
The Revolutionary United Front (RUF) - under the command of Foday Sankoh and backed by Liberian President Charles Taylor - attacked Sierra Leone from Liberia in 1991.
 
In the following years carnage unfolded when the RUF, civil defence militas, private armies, Nigerian peacekeepers and government forces were all fighting for control of the country. Sierra Leone became the theatre of constant chaos and brutalisation of civilians.

Massacres, rape, amputations, child soldiers and other widespread abuses became the weapons of war.
 
The war ended in 2002.
 
Where is the court based?
The court is based in Freetown, the capitol of Sierra Leone.
 
Why is Taylor being tried in The Hague instead of Freetown?
Taylor’s trial is being held in the courtrooms of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Netherlands. His trial in Freetown was deemed undesirable for security reasons, so the United Nations Security Council (resolution 1688 of  June 2006) allowed the SCSL to transfer Taylor's case to the ICC. His trial is still being conducted under SCSL auspices.
 
When was the court established?
Although a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was installed to deal with the brutalities of war, on 12 June 2000 Sierra Leonean President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah requested that the United Nations set up a Special Court for Sierra Leone. The purpose of such a court would be to try and bring the RUF and their accomplices to justice.

The Lomé Peace Agreement of 1999 that had created the TRC provided a full amnesty for all parties to the conflict. In 1999, the UN added a proviso to such amnesties for international crimes and likewise decided that the jurisdiction of the court should include genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and other serious violations of international humanitarian law. At the same time, crimes under Sierra Leonean law would not be excluded.

Who is being tried?
The court has already taken longer than expected and the Taylor case is expected to continue until at least 2010. The original plan for it to finish work in three years has long been abandoned. Delays in completing its strategy arose because of the great deal of time that went into planning the investigations and building the court, even before the Prosecutor came to Sierra Leone. Another serious problem faced by the court has been the continuing need to obtain funding. It has been close to bankruptcy on several occasions.

Charles Taylor - defence trial started on July 13th
CDF: Moinina Fofana and Allieu Kondewa - found guilty in August 2007 of war crimes.
AFRC: Alex Tamba Brima, Brima Kamara and Santigie Borbor Kanu - found guilty in June 2007 of war crimes.
RUF: Issa Hassan Sesay, Morris Kallon and Augustine Gbao - found guilty in February 2009 of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

RUF rebel leader Foday Sankoh and his deputy commander Sam Bockarie - died.
Ex-Defence Minister Sam Hinga Norman, who led the pro-government Civil Defence Force (CDF) - died in custody.
Johnny Paul Koroma, former leader of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) - missing.

What is the court’s mandate?
The Special Court was given the power to prosecute those individuals who bear the greatest responsibility for serious violations of international humanitarian law and Sierra Leonean law committed in the territory of Sierra Leone after 30 November 1996.

The Court's mandate also includes prosecution of those leaders who threatened the establishment of and implementation of the peace process in Sierra Leone. Contrary to Kabbah's original request for the leadership to face trial, the Court can prosecute any individual who played a leadrole in the crimes. Children aged between 15 and 18 are also liable for prosecution under the Court's statute. The Office of the Prosecutor, however, quickly made it clear that it would not prosecute children.
 
Why was the court’s mandate extended?
The Court had a difficult start since it was starting from scratch and had a limited budget, provided by the international community on a voluntary basis. By November 2003, however, 13 people had been indicted. Although the Court had indicted high-level individuals, there were major setbacks in actually bringing them to justice. It was, for example, difficult to arrest Liberian President Charles Taylor. In addition, some suspects died or remained at large. RUF-leaders Foday 'Popay' Sankoh and Sam 'Mosquito' Bockarie died in 2003 and Johnny Paul Koroma's whereabouts remain unknown. In 2007 Sam Hinga Norman died while in custody, before judgement was rendered.

With the key individuals either deceased, missing or in exile, the Court finally managed to apprehend Charles Taylor in 2006. Taylor's trial is being held at the International Criminal Court in The Hague because of security concerns in Sierra Leone. The former president is alleged to have been the central figure in the Sierra Leone war. His defence trail started on July 13, 2009.

Relevant links
Special Court for Sierra Leone
Basic Documents and Texts
Charles Taylor Trial Live Stream
Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission
The Trial of Charles Taylor
Sierra Leone Court Monitor Programme