January 2023 highlighted the growing impact of universal jurisdiction, with Switzerland’s first war crimes trial involving Liberian Alieu Kosiah. Meanwhile, former rebels faced charges in Finland, and the trial of Gambian death squad member Bai L. marked a historic moment for accountability. Global efforts against impunity continue to expand.
This month’s round-up highlights diverse international cases, including the trial of 11 men for a 2009 massacre in Guinea and a groundbreaking petition in Indonesia seeking to hold Myanmar’s junta accountable for human rights abuses. Notable arrests and trials related to war crimes also unfold across various regions.
Appeal in Alieu Kosiah Case and Upcoming Trial of Kunti K. in Paris The case of Alieu Kosiah, former United Liberation Movement of Liberia (ULIMO) sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for his role in the First Liberian civil war, will go in appeal in January 2023. The Appeal proceedings in front of the Swiss Federal […]
The Trial that Made Swiss Judges Go Down in History On June 18, the Federal Criminal Court issued a judgment convicting Alieu Kosiah, Liberian national arrested in Lausanne, for war crimes committed during the First Civil War in Liberia. How and why were Swiss judges able to pass judgment on a foreign national who has […]
International Justice: the Slowness of Switzerland Despite the recent conviction of a Liberian warlord, Switzerland is still struggling to become a leading player in the fight against impunity for the most serious crimes. It is, however, well equipped to follow the lead of many European countries in prosecuting perpetrators of the worst atrocities. The analysis […]
Liberian Plaintiffs Make Swiss and Liberian Legal History Bellinzona, Switzerland – Seven Liberian plaintiffs have made legal history, both in Switzerland and Liberia. They persisted in their quest for justice for over seven years, despite the Ebola outbreak of 2014-2015 and the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020-2021. The Swiss Federal Criminal Court today issued a landmark verdict […]
Alieu Kosiah case: verdict date announced Alieu Kosiah, former ULIMO commander, stood trial in Bellinzona, Switzerland, in December 2020 and in February 2021 for four weeks for the crimes he allegedly committed in Lofa County, Liberia, between 1993 and 1996. He is charged with 25 counts of war crimes, including murders, forced transports, looting, rape, […]
The Trial of Alieu Kosiah Will Begin Next Week, but Is Partially Postponed Today, November 23, the Swiss Federal Criminal Court announced that the Alieu Kosiah trial will be partially postponed until the beginning of 2021 – tentatively in February. The Court has decided to only proceed with the preliminary questions and the hearing of the […]
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 […]
Alieu Kosiah’s Trial Postponed until the End of 2020 The trial of Alieu Kosiah, former United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO) commander, has again been postponed by the Swiss Federal Criminal Court. The trial was initially scheduled to take place in April 2020, in Bellinzona, Switzerland. However in March 2020, it was postponed by the Court […]
