Crane, David M. --- "Dancing in the dark - politics, law and peace in Sierra Leone: a case study" [2011] ELECD 109; in Brown, S. Bartram (ed), "Research Handbook on International Criminal Law" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2011)

Book Title: Research Handbook on International Criminal Law

Editor(s): Brown, S. Bartram

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781847202789

Section: Chapter 17

Section Title: Dancing in the dark - politics, law and peace in Sierra Leone: a case study

Author(s): Crane, David M.

Number of pages: 18

Extract:

17 Dancing in the dark ­ politics, law and peace in
Sierra Leone: a case study
David M. Crane



INTRODUCTION

It was a hot and humid day in Liberia. Tension electrified the humid and fetid air. At the base
of the stairs of an Air Nigeria plane stood the recently defrocked President of Liberia, Charles
Ghankay Taylor. He seemed stunned. Pale, trying to maintain his composure, he spoke with
halting words, seemingly trying to say something significant at this historic moment in the
life of West Africa. At the end of his brief remarks to the media gathered around him, he
boldly stated, `... and God willing, I'll be back'. This indicted war criminal then turned and
walked up the stairs for a flight to the seaside town of Calabar, Nigeria, escorted by various
supporting Presidents from all over Africa. They almost seemed to be shielding him from
something that even they could not understand. As the plane lifted off into the rain-laden
clouds, the end of a ten-year reign of terror began to unravel. Had the rule of law finally
proved to be more powerful than the rule of the gun? No one was sure, but the words Taylor
spoke rang clearly in our minds and in the minds of the people of West Africa: `I'll be back.'1
Fast forward almost three years later to a sleepy university town in Ontario. It was a bright
clear day. I was the guest of the faculty of law ...