Judicial institutions in Sierra Leone are moribund or almost completely ineffective as a consequence of a devastating civil war dating from 1991. Judges are poorly resourced and often ill-trained.
The expectations for rebuilding State institutions which arose following the 1999 peace agreement by rebels and pro-governmental forces in 1999 has yet to be realised. Heightened concern from the international community has led the UN Security Council to endorse the proposition of the Sierra Leonean Government for the establishment of an International Special Court devoted to judging crimes committed in Sierra Leone during the civil war.
This Court has yet to be set up due to the lack of funding commitment by UN member states.
Attacks on Justice 2002 – Sierra Leone [full text, PDF]