RSCSL staff escorted Moinina Fofana to his community in Bo on Friday, where he will serve the final three years of his 15-year sentence.
Fofana, who was convicted by the Special Court of war crimes and crimes against humanity, has been placed under the supervision of a Monitoring Authority established by the RSCSL and the Government of Sierra Leone. This is the first time an international criminal tribunal has granted supervised Conditional Early Release to a war crimes convict.
Prior to his departure to Bo, in the presence of the Registrar, RSCSL staff and gathered journalists, Fofana publicly apologised to his victims and the people of Sierra Leone.
“I’m apologising to those who were victims of the war to forgive me,” he said. “I am fervently asking for their forgiveness—to pardon me. Everyone, including men and women—I’m sorry for what happened and I want them to accept me back into their community as their brother. Thinking back, I know what happened and I feel sorry about it, and I am asking for their forgiveness.”
“I am also asking all Sierra Leoneans and everyone in Sierra Leone who was affected by the war to forgive me, including men and women. I am also asking the government to forgive me and allow me to return to this country. And I want to thank the government for allowing to come back to my country.”
Fofana is required to report at least twice monthly to the Monitoring Authority, which is comprised of the Sierra Leone Police. The Monitoring Authority’s mandate is supported by the local paramount chief and members of the Bo community.
The RSCSL expressed gratitude to the Government of Sierra Leone which worked with the Court to establish the Monitoring Authority, and to the United Nations for its support of the process. This cooperation was essential in implementing the mandate of the Court.
The RSCSL also thanked the Government of Rwanda for its role in housing the prisoners at Mpanga Prison, and for its assistance in preparing Fofana to return to Sierra Leone.
