Press Release – 21 August 2020

New dates set for Alieu Kosiah Trial in 2020
Today, the Swiss Federal Criminal Court announced that new dates have been set for the trial of Alieu Kosiah, former United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO) commander. After being postponed twice due to the spread of COVID-19, the trial of Alieu Kosiah is scheduled to take place in Bellinzona, Switzerland, from November 16 to December 18, 2020. Civitas Maxima represents several plaintiffs in the case.
Alieu Kosiah is accused of the commission or command of acts of sexual violence, murders, cannibalism, recruitment of child soldiers, looting, forcing civilians to work in cruel conditions, and the forced movement of looted goods, weapons, and ammunition. Alieu Kosiah will be the first person to be tried for war crimes in front of the Swiss Federal Criminal Court, and the first Liberian tried for war crimes committed during the Liberian Civil Wars.