Is Sierra Leone Worth Dying For? The Plight of Kamajor Leaders
The Civil Defence Forces (CDF) fought in Sierra Leone’s civil war between 1991 and 2002. They supported the SLPP government of President Dr Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah.
The CDF consisted mostly of South/easterners. Their leader was Chief Samuel Hinga Norman. He later became Deputy Defence Minister and later Minister of Internal Affairs in the Tejan Kabah led SLPP administration.
When the Special Court for Sierra Leone was established in January 2002, some of the main leaders of the CDF (Kamajors) were indicted by the court for their role in the civil war.
The leader of the CDF, Samuel Hinga Norman, was indicted by the court in March 2003 for war crimes and crimes against humanity. After four years in detention, Mr. Hinga Norman died in Dakar, Senegal even before a verdict could be reached by the Trial Chamber of the Special Court.
Other senior Kamajor officials were indicted and found guilty. Two of them, Moinina Fofana (Director of War) and Allieu Kondewa (Spiritual leader and head of initiations) have been released by the Court after serving their sentences.
They now live in extreme destitution. These people laid down their lives for the survival of this great nation. The peace we are enjoying today was as a result of the sacrifices made by people like Moinina Fofana and Allieu Kondewa of the CDF.
Last week, pictures of Allieu Kondewa emerged on social media showing him sick and frail, with no money to even take care of his medical bills at the Bo Government Hospital.
His plight came to the public attention when a local blogger in Bo, visited him and took pictures of his penurious state. Is this the way we treat people who laid down their lives for the survival of this nation?
After the civil war ended in 2002, a soldier who fought in the war, came to Freetown with no limbs. He was interviewed by the “New Vision” Newspaper in 2002 about his experience in the war front. He fought tears back when he asked: Is Sierra Leone worth dying for?
As a nation, we have to address the plight of people who have laid down their lives for us to survive as a nation.
Long Live Mama Salone!