“This paper discusses the trial of the former head of state of Liberia, Charles Taylor, from Freetown to The Hague, by
the Special Court for Sierra Leone. It highlights the principal legal issues surrounding Taylor’s indictment in connection
with the decade-long civil conflict in Sierra Leone, his arrest, and the dilemma about his subsequent prosecution. It
discusses the possible implications for those involved in other African conflicts and also examines the trial in terms of
its potential contribution to the struggle against impunity, the development of international law and conflict prevention
in Africa.”
