Former Liberian rebel militia commander
Kunti Kamara, a.k.a. Kunti Kumara,[1] Kunti K.,[2][3][4] Colonel Kamara, CO Kamara ("Commanding Officer Kamara")[5] or Co Kamara,[3] whose real name may be Awaliho Soumaworo,[6] is a former Liberian rebel militia commander who participated in the First Liberian Civil War as a leader in the United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO).[7][8]
In 2018, he was arrested in France—under the doctrine of universal jurisdiction for crimes against humanity—and charged in a French court for acts of barbarity including torture, cannibalism, forced labour and complicity in crimes against humanity during that Liberian war, and put on trial starting October 10, 2022, in a Paris court.[7][2][6][9][10] The trial was the first of its kind in France against an alleged Liberian war criminal.[7][4][8][2][9]
In November 2022, Kunti Kamara was found guilty of complicity in crimes against humanity, and acts of barbarity, during 1993 and 1994, and sentenced to life imprisonment by the Paris court in France.[11][12][13][14] The trial began on March 6, 2024.[15]
- ^ "Switzerland Finds Liberian Rebel Leader Guilty of Wartime Atrocities", June 18, 2021, New York Times, retrieved October 15, 2022
- ^ a b c Willsher, Kim: "Former Liberian rebel charged with war crimes awaits Paris trial: Kunti Kamara charged with torture, cannibalism and complicity in crimes against humanity during civil war between 1989 and 1996," October 10, 2022, The Guardian, retrieved October 13, 2022
- ^ a b "War Crimes Trial begins in France for former Liberian rebel", October 10, 2022, Liberia Public Radio, retrieved October 13, 2022
- ^ a b "Suspect of Crimes Against Humanity Arrested in France", press release, September 7, 2018, Civitas Maxima, retrieved October 13, 2022
- ^ Vidalie, Anne: "Liberian rebel leader Kunti Kamara opens in Paris," October 10, 2022, Le Monde, retrieved October 15, 2022
- ^ a b van der Kraaij, Fred: "Kunti Kamara / Awaliho Soumaworo", Liberia: Past and Present, retrieved October 13, 2022
- ^ a b c Corbet, Sylvie; and Jonathan Paye-Layleh: "Paris trial opens over crimes against humanity in Liberia", October 10, 2022, Associated Press in Washington Post, retrieved October 13, 2022 (also at "Paris Trial Opens Over Crimes Against Humanity in Liberia," in Voice of America)
- ^ a b Baboolal, Samara (University of Nottingham): "War crimes trial against Liberian rebel commander Kunti Kamara commences in France", October 10, 2022, JURIST, University of Pittsburgh, retrieved October 13, 2022
- ^ a b "First Liberia civil war trial for crimes against humanity opens in France", October 10, 2022, France 24, retrieved October 13, 2022
- ^ "Liberia: Trial Of Liberian Rebel For War Crimes Begins In France," October 11, 2022, Front Page Africa, retrieved October 13, 2022
- ^ "Kunti Kamara condamne a la reclusion a perpetuite au termed un proces historique," November 3, 2022, Le Monde
- ^ Agence France-Presse: "French court sentences Liberian ex-rebel commander to life in prison," November 2, 2022, France24, retrieved November 3, 2022
- ^ Willsher, Kim: "French court convicts former Liberian rebel commander over atrocities: Kunti Kamara given life sentence for complicity in crimes against humanity", November 2, 2022, The Guardian, retrieved November 4, 2022
- ^ Radio France Internationale: "Liberia: French Court Hands Liberian Rebel Kunti Kamara Life Sentence for War Crimes," November 3, 2022, All Africa, retrieved November 4, 2022
- ^ Le Monde: "LIBERIA Crimes contre l’humanité au Liberia : un ancien commandant rebelle jugé en appel à Paris" March 5, 2024, retrieved March 7, 2024