Sierra Leone: Treatment of forcibly recruited Revolutionary United Front (RUF) members by the ECOMOG and the government
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 27 January 2003 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | SLE40923.E |
| Reference | 1 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Sierra Leone: Treatment of forcibly recruited Revolutionary United Front (RUF) members by the ECOMOG and the government, 27 January 2003, SLE40923.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4e1818.html [accessed 1 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
For general information on forcibly recruited children and young men by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) as well as an overview of the role of the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG), please consult the Human Rights Watch (HRW) report entitled Sowing Terror: Atrocities Against Civilians in Sierra Leone (July 1998). Amnesty International's (AI) 2002 annual report for Sierra Leone also indicates that forced recruitment of mostly male civilians continued during 2001. The report states that 500 men in Jagbwema, Eastern Province, "were reportedly captured by the RUF for training as combatants" (AI 2002).
A detailed report of human rights abuses committed by the ECOMOG, the Sierra Leonean Defence Forces (SLDF) and the police can be found in the HRW report entitled Sierra Leone: Getting Away With Murder, Mutilation, Rape although specific reference to forcibly recruited RUF members is not included (July 1999).
Amnesty International's 1999 annual report for Sierra Leone provides corroborating information regarding abuses committed by the ECOMOG:
There were some reports that ECOMOG forces were responsible for illegal detention of civilians and torture and ill-treatment of combatants during surrender or capture. Reports also suggested that ECOMOG forces handed over some captured rebels to the CDF [Civil Defence Forces] who then summarily executed them. UNOMSIL [United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone] also expressed concern that ECOMOG forces did not consistently respect international humanitarian law in relation to the protection of non-combatants in areas affected by conflict.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Amnesty International (AI). 2002. Annual Report 2002. "Sierra Leone." _____. 1999. Annual Report 1999. "Sierra Leone." Human Rights Watch (HRW). July 1999. Vol 11, No. 3 (A). Sierra Leone: Getting Away With Murder, Mutilation, Rape. _____. July 1998. Vol. 10, No. 3 (A). Sowing Terror: Atrocities Against Civilians in Sierra Leone. Additional Sources Consulted
IRB Databases
NEXIS
Internet sites, including:
Africa Online
AllAfrica.com
BBC Africa
Campaign for Good Governance
Global IDP
Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN)
International Christian Concern (ICC)
International Crisis Group (ICG)
Relief Web
Save the Children (International)
Sierra Leone Web
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
U.S. Committee for Refugees (USCR)
World News Connection (WNC)
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