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Liberia: Former AFRC Combat Commander Describes Anatomy of the January 1999 Freetown invasion


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GUEST BLOG
23 April 2008
Posted to the web 23 April 2008

The monitors of former President Charles Taylor's trial report for www.charlestaylortrial.org

Former AFRC Combat Commander Describes Anatomy of the January 1999 Freetown invasion

On his fifth day of testimony, prosecution witness Alimamy Bobson Sesay, a former combat commander with the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), testified only about events in late 1998 and January 1999. Specifically, he gave evidence about attacks leading up to the January 6, 1999 rebel invasion of Freetown, and about the Freetown invasion itself.

Prosecutor Shyamala Alagendra elicited information on specific crimes and the forces involved, as well as communications about attacks and movements between local commanders and the leader of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), Sam Bockarie ("Mosquito"). The witness recounted numerous horrific atrocities committed by rebel forces, including himself. Alagendra seemed particularly interested in the involvement of a group of Liberian fighters in the crimes described by Sesay throughout his evidence today.

Liberian and other reinforcements

Alagendra asked Sesay about reinforcements received by the AFRC/RUF group under the command of AFRC commander Alex Tamba Brima ("Gullit") outside of Freetown in late 1998. Sesay testified that well-armed reinforcements had been sent by RUF leader Sam Bockarie and consisted of various components: additional AFRC fighters, about 30 RUF fighters, and about 50 Liberians. He said that among the Liberians were about 30 of the Special Task Force (STF), a group of Liberians in the Sierra Leone army from 1992-1994, and an additional 20 who were former fighters in Charles Taylor's National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) who had gone on to join the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL). Many of the new arrivals, including all of the Liberians, were put into a new unit called the Red Lion Battalion.

The witness testified that the Red Lion Battalion intervened to end an internal dispute in the rebel camp headed by Gullit in November 1998, briefly detaining several top commanders. Sesau said that ahead of the expected arrival of Saj Musa, two commanders had objected to Gullit's contention that he was superior to Musa. Gullit then accused one of these commanders of witchcraft, whereupon this commander, Hassan Papa Bangura ("Bomb Blast") accused Gullit and another commander of having buried two young girls alive as a sacrifice. When Gullit ordered his arrest, the Red Lion Battalion stepped in to restore unity.

According to Sesay, AFRC commander Saj Musa arrived at the rebel camp in early December 1998 together with about 200-250 fighters composed mainly of RUF and AFRC, but also some STF combatants. Saj Musa took control of the brigade upon his arrival and made Gullit his deputy. Musa also announced that the brigade was to enter the capital, Freetown.

Attacks in western Sierra Leone in late 1998

The witness discussed various rebel attacks in which he participated in late 1998, including:

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