Johnny Paul Koromah
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Maj. Johnny Paul Koroma was a junior officer in the Sierra Leone Army (SLA) until his imprisonment in Freetown's Pademba Road Prison for his alleged involvement [date unknown] in an attempted coup. On 25 May 1997, junior elements of the SLA overthrew the elected government of President Kabbah, forming a junta known as the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC). The coupists released Koroma from prison, and installed him as Chairman and Head of State. Koroma invited the leadership of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) to join the AFRC, which they promptly did.
The AFRC coup was accompanied by an explosion of violence against civilians throughout the nation; the key strategic change was that the RUF had immediate access throughout the country, something they had failed to achieve through six years of military action. To justify the AFRC coup, Koroma cited corruption, the erosion of State sovereignty, over-dependence on foreign nations, and the failure of the Government of Sierra Leone to adequately address tensions between the SLA and government supported tribally-based militia movements, in particular the Kamajors. Koroma's story is very much that of the AFRC, and indeed the failings of the Abidjan Peace Accord struck between the Government of Sierra Leone and the RUF on 30 November 1996.
By 2 June 1997, the RUF/AFRC found itself at odds with Nigerian forces (deployed unilaterally at this stage, and under and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Ceasefire Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) mandate by August 1997) stationed in and around Freetown's Western Area; trading mortar fire along the main highway into Freetown, and around the Freetown International Airport. Koroma immediately sought to ease the situation seeking mediation; resulting in the signing of a peace accord in late October 1997 in Conakry, Republic of Guinea. Almost immediately, violations of the peace accord were perpetrated by all sides to the complex conflict in Sierra Leone. By January 1998, Nigerian forces were preparing to oust the RUF/AFRC from power. On 6 February 1998, Nigerian forces invaded key locations in the Western Area, removing the RUF/AFRC entirely by 12 February 1998. On 1 March 1998, Nigerian forces commenced operations in provincial Sierra Laone, removing the RUF/AFRC from every key town expect Kailahun (in the far east of the country). By December 1998, RUF/AFRC forces had reversed this position, invading Freetown in January 1999. Failing to hold territory, the RUF/AFRC retreated into the Northern Province of Sierra Leone.
The leadership of the RUF led peace negotiations with the Government of Sierra Leone, leading to the signing of the Lome Peace Agreement on 7 July 1999. Koroma was cut out of both negotiations and the AFRC did not benefit from the substantive provisions of the agreement. Nevertheless, Koroma participated in the disarmament process, encouraging those SLA soldiers that had joined the AFRC to demobilise. By 2000, Koroma was no longer held significant influence over the RUF leadership, as evidenced by the involvement of ex-AFRC members (from a splinter group called the West Side Boys)in defending towns in Port Loko District against a renewed RUF offensive in May 2000. In August 2000, Koroma officially disbanded the AFRC and sought to consolidate his political position through the formation of a political party.
In early 2002, the Government of Sierra Leone and the United Nations signed a bilateral treaty establishing the Special Court for Sierra Leone, mandated to try those who "bear the greatest responsibility" for crimes against humanity, war crimes and other serious violations of international humanitarian law. On 7 March 2003, the Prosecutor of the Special Court issued his first indictments. For his role in the RUF/AFRC, Koroma was among them. Koroma fled Freetown in December, reportedly to Liberia, where he was alleged murdered. The Prosecutor has yet to withdraw the indictment against Koroma.