By patricia.ngevao@awokonewspaper.sl (MRCG/ATJLF Fellow 2025)
For over two decades, Sierra Leone’s war victims have been living with the painful reality that the promises made to them after the civil war remain largely unfulfilled.
The civil conflict, which raged between 1991 and 2002, left behind thousands of victims, including those who were maimed in brutal rebel attacks. For many of these survivors, the struggle for justice, dignity, and reparations has been an ongoing battle, compounded by government neglect and institutional failures.
Reparations, defined as redress for victims of human rights abuses, can take forms such as rehabilitation, restitution, compensation, truth-telling, restoring dignity, and improving quality of life. The concept also includes ensuring “non-repetition” to prevent future harm. The Sierra Leone reparations program emphasizes rehabilitation through service packages and symbolic actions to acknowledge past wrongs, aiming to balance victims’ needs with national development goals while avoiding further societal division. Rehabilitation focuses on providing medical and psychological care, addressing immediate needs and supporting long-term recovery. Symbolic reparations, like memorial services and monuments, honor victims, preserve the memory of the conflict, and foster healing and reconciliation. (TRC Report, vol.2, chp4, sec.22-26, pgs233-234)
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Sierra Leone made specific recommendations regarding reparations. The detailed recommendations can be found in vol.4, chp.5, sec.100-209, p250-265 of the TRC final report. These areas outline the call for a comprehensive reparations program, including healthcare, financial assistance, housing, and skills training for survivors of the war.
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