Charles Taylor

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Charles Taylor seized power in Liberia in a ruthless civil war that left an estimated 250,000 Liberians dead and thousands more serioudly wounded. Once in power Taylor has plundered the country's diamonds and timber resources, to the extent that the UN has imposed a total embargo on Liberian diamonds and timber. Taylor is also infamous for providing aid to RUF leader Foday Sankoh in Sierra Leone, for which the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone indicted him. His trial before the Court started on June 4, 2007.

Reports|Articles

Reports

Security Council Resolution 1638 (November 11, 2005)

Security Council Resolution 1638 gives the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) a mandate to "apprehend and detain" former Liberian President Charles Taylor to facilitate his transfer to the Sierra Leone Special Court for prosecution.

A Time for Justice (June 2005)

This Global Witness document provides an account of former Liberian President Charles Taylor's continued contact and influence with his associates in West Africa. The NGO makes clear that surrendering Taylor to the Special Court for Sierra Leone will improve security in the region and calls on the government of Nigeria and the UN Security Council to increase efforts to bring him to justice.

List of Individuals and Entities Subject to the Measures Contained in Paragraph 1 of Security Council Resolution 1532 (2004) Concerning Liberia (June 14, 2004)

In compliance with Security Council resolution 1521 (2003) the Council approved the "assets freeze list." The list freezes funds, other financial assets and economic resources from individuals including former Liberian President Charles Taylor and international arms dealer Victor Bout.

Security Council Resolution 1532 (March 12, 2004)

Security Council Resolution 1532 calls on member states to freeze the funds and assets of former Liberian President Charles Taylor and his associates. The measures aim at preventing these individuals, from using their economic resources to undermine peace and stability in Liberia.

Articles

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2012

Charles Taylor Trial Highlights ICC Concerns (April 27, 2012)

The Special Court for Sierra Leone found former Liberian president Charles Taylor guilty of aiding and abetting war crimes. The court’s conclusion is a milestone for international justice and for the victims affected by Taylor’s actions. But this conclusion also raises questions about the pursuit of international justice and how it is carried out in the world today. The Special Court for Sierra Leone was mostly funded by Western nations, and it conveniently helped the US and UK achieve their political goals in West Africa. This al Jazeera article argues that international courts, including the ICC, should not be used as a backdoor for Western powers to target their political enemies. (al Jazeera)

Victor’s Justice: What’s Wrong with Warlord Charles Taylor’s Conviction (April 30, 2012)

Since 2000, the US has financed a rebel insurgency (that itself committed war crimes) against Charles Taylor, imposed sanctions to weaken Taylor’s regime, financed internal political opposition against Taylor, and finally hel