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africanews

The testimony of black British supermodel Naomi Campbell at the Special Court for Sierra Leone is currently the lead news item in almost all major news network around the world today but Sierra Leoneans on whose behalf the UN-backed court is prosecuting alleged culprits of the conflict, have not shown any interest.

The Special Court announced earlier that they will video stream the long-awaited testimony of Campbell to the media and the general public at the courtroom at New England Ville Western Freetown.

However, only three journalists went to witness the proceedings including AfricaNews reporter, the BBC correspondent here and another local reporter, which makes the total number of 10 plus security staffs of the court out of a population of more than five million.

In the streets of Freetown, the capital, the interest is low. Most people AfricaNews spoke to were unaware who Naomi Campbell is and to what extent she is involve in the Charles Taylor trial. Kemoh Sesay, a young man in his late 20’s cited the long delay in the Taylor trial and the huge amount of money the court has spent already as among the factors that are responsible for the lack of interest.

“Most people are thinking today of how to provide for their families considering the current economic situation and not the special court,” Sesay said while Ali Kamara argued that the setting up of the Special Court will indeed put an end to impunity. “We are now living in a civilised world, no one is above the law, anyone who commits crimes anywhere must face the full penalties.”

A gift

Meanwhile, Campbell has told the UN backed court in her testimony in The Hague that she received diamonds from unidentified men. "I was sleeping and had a knock at the door that woke me up. Two men were there and they gave me a pouch and said: 'A gift for you'."

"I went back to bed. I looked into the pouch the next morning," the model said. "I saw a few stones, they were very small, dirty looking stones."

"I'm used to seeing diamonds in a box ... If someone had not said they were diamonds, I would not have known they were diamonds," she said while adding that "I don't want to be here. I was made to be here ... This is a terrible inconvenience to me," Campbell told the court.

"Obviously I just want to get this over with and get on with my life."
Sierra Leone went through a bloody civil war which lasted for 11 years killing over 75 thousand. Hundreds were amputated, young girls were used as sex slaves whiles under age boys where recruited to commit attrocities.

At the end of the civil war, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was instituted for the purpose of reconciliation. The Special Court came into existence by an agreement between the United Nations and the Government of Sierra Leone to try all those that are beleive to bear the greatest responsibility in the civil war. The court has tried and convicted leaders of various groups who took part in the civil war. The Taylor trial which was trasferred to The Hague citing security reasons remains the last matter before the court.