Sierra Leone
This country page describes, in brief, data that TJET has compiled on regime transitions, intrastate conflict episodes, and transitional justice mechanisms. For details on the data included on this page, view the FAQ.
For Sierra Leone, TJET has collected information on: five amnesties between 1986 and 2001; twelve domestic trials starting between 2003 and 2020; two foreign trials starting between 2015 and 2018; six international trials starting in 2003; one reparations policy created in 2004; one truth commission mandated in 2000; and one vetting policy starting in 1996.
Select any transitional justice mechanism in the table below to view a timeline in the figure.
Country Background
Democratic Transition
Based on well-known democracy data, TJET records two democratic transitions starting in 1996 and 2001.
Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.
Violent Conflict
Based on the Uppsala Conflict Data Program, TJET records four violent intrastate conflict episodes between 1991 and 2001, involving four distinct armed opposition groups fighting against the government. Four conflict episodes were internationalized by involvement of external state actors.
Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions. Source: UCDP Dyadic Dataset version 23.1, https://ucdp.uu.se/downloads/index.html#dyadic.
Transitional Justice Data
As of 2020, Sierra Leone ranks 88th out of 174 on TJET’s legacy of violence index. For a full list of country rankings over time, view the index page, and for an explanation of the index, view the Methods & FAQs page.
Amnesties
Sierra Leone had five amnesties between 1986 and 2001. One occurred in the context of democratic transition. Two were passed during ongoing internal armed conflict. Two were passed after internal armed conflict. Two were part of a peace agreement. Three amnesties released political prisoners. Two amnesties forgave human rights violations.
Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.
Domestic Trials
TJET has compiled data on twelve domestic prosecutions between 2003 and 2020. These include twelve regular human rights prosecutions of state agents, in which one person was convicted; and two opposition prosecutions of state agents or opposition members, in which no one was convicted.
Click on accused records for data on convictions. Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.
International or Hybrid Trials
Nationals of Sierra Leone were subject to six international prosecutions between 2003 and 2009, which led to eight convictions.
Click on accused records for data on convictions. Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.
Foreign Trials
Nationals of Sierra Leone were defendants in two foreign prosecutions in Belgium and Finland beginning between 2015 and 2018.
Click on accused records for data on convictions. Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.
Reparations Policies
Sierra Leone implemented one reparations policy, starting in 2008. According to available information, there was a total of 29733 individual beneficiaries. One reparations policy provided collective benefits.
Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.
Truth Commissions
Sierra Leone mandated one truth commission in 2000. The commission completed its operations in 2004. The commission issued a final report, which is publicly available. The report included recommendations for prosecutions, reparations, and institutional reforms.
Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.
Vetting Policies
Sierra Leone had one vetting policy between 1996 and 1997. This policy provided sanctions based on past individual conduct.
Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.