A EUROPEAN COLLABORATION: SWISS NGO SEEKS A WARLORD’S PROSECUTION IN FRANCE Kunti K. Context Ongoing proceedings in France for serious crimes under international law allegedly committed in Liberia between 1993 and 1997 Suspect Alleged commander in the United Liberation Movement for Democracy in Liberia (ULIMO), a rebel group fighting against Charles Taylor’s National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) Country of residence of suspect On 4 September 2018, he was arrested by the OCLCH agency – the French police unit specialized in investigating war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and torture. Kunti K. was remanded in custody. He is suspected of torture, murder, slavery, using child soldiers, and cannibalism committed between 1993 and 1997, in Liberia during the civil war. Current status Indicted: remanded in custody Facts Kunti K. allegedly committed crimes against humanity between 1993 and 1997 as commander of the ULIMO, during the first Liberian civil war (1989–1996). In his capacity as ULIMO commander, Kunti K. allegedly committed murder, enslavement, torture, cannibalism, and used child soldiers. Read more about the case The Netherlands Charges Crimes against humanity, including torture, use of child soldiers, murders, cannibalism Developments in 2018 On 23 July 2018, the Swiss NGO Civitas Maxima launched a complaint in the name of Liberian victims before the French specialized unit for the prosecution of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and torture, within the Paris High Court (hereinafter “the specialized unit”). 31 Field notes “Fear has changed sides” “Universal jurisdiction cases have had a huge impact in Liberia. For years, any prosecution was not possible, victims could see former war lords being nominated in the government. Now they know that there is another option, that a breakthrough is possible. It triggered something in the population: every day on the radio, people are calling for war crimes trials. Fear has changed sides: it used to be on the victims’ side, now it’s on the perpetrators’.” Emmanuelle Marchand, Senior Legal Counsel for the NGO Civitas Maxima