Samuel Hinga Norman
Encyclopedia
Samuel Hinga Norman was a Sierra Leonean politician
from the Mende tribe. He was the founder and leader of the traditional Civil Defence Forces
, commonly known as the Kamajors
. The Kamajors fought under the supported the government of Ahmed Tejan Kabbah against the Revolutionary United Front
(RUF), which was led by Foday Sankoh
. On 7 March 2003, however, Hinga Norman was
indicted by the Special Court for Sierra Leone
for war crimes and crimes against humanity. He died on 22 February 2007 in Dakar
, Senegal
while undergoing medical treatment. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6387673.stm
Norman married Josephine(née Bayo) Norman around 1951 and had four children; Sam Hinga Norman Jr, Florence Norman, Juliet Norman and Esther Kosia who is married to Saffa Kosia. Norman had seven grandchildren; Mary Kpagoi who is the daughter of Juliet Norman, Musata Tarawally who is the daughter of Florence Norman, Sam Tutange, Bernard Kosia, Bennedict Kosia, Beatrice Kosia who are sons and daughters of Esther Kosia, and Samuel, Ben and Samantha Norman who are daughters and sons of Sam Hinga Norman Jr.
, Bo District
, in the Southern Province
of Sierra Leone. He joined the Sierra Leone Army in 1959 and served until 1972, ascending to the rank of captain. He also attended school during this time and received a diploma from the Officer's School of Aldershot
in the United Kingdom
. Before his death, he was survived by an elder brother Michael H. Norman who was a distinguished Educationists in Ghana and notable among Michael Norman children is Fred Michael who is presently a director with the Global Resources Inc. Accra Ghana.
and Sandline International
, both of whom helped train the force) as the security force of the government. At that time members of the Sierra Leone Army (SLA), calling themselves the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council
(AFRC), were supporting Revolutionary United Front
(RUF) leader Foday Sankoh
against the Kabbah government. The Kamajors integrated themselves into the ECOMOG (a Nigeria
led force) counteroffensive to reinstate Kabbah in 1998 after Freetown
was taken by the RUF
(backed by Charles Taylor and led by Foday Sankoh) in combination with the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council
, led by Johnny Paul Koroma. The force eventually consisted of over 20,000 men, dwarfing the size of the army and the rebel groups.
.
His indictment accused him of
Norman's trial then began on June 3, 2004 along with those of Moinina Fofana
and Allieu Kondewa
. At the outset of his trial, Norman dissolved his legal team and stated that he wished to represent himself. He later assented to standby counsel representing him. His trial concluded with closing arguments in September 2006. Norman died in custody on 22 February 2007 before verdict after having undergone a surgical procedure in Dakar, Senegal. The trial proceedings against him were accordingly terminated.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the Mende tribe. He was the founder and leader of the traditional Civil Defence Forces
Civil Defence Forces
The Civil Defense Forces or CDF were a paramilitary organization who fought in the Sierra Leone Civil War . They supported the elected government of Ahmed Tejan Kabbah against the rebel groups RUF and AFRC . Much of the CDF was made up of the Kamajors group, which is part of the larger Mende...
, commonly known as the Kamajors
Kamajors
The Kamajors are a group of traditional hunters from the Mende ethnic group in the south and east of Sierra Leone...
. The Kamajors fought under the supported the government of Ahmed Tejan Kabbah against the Revolutionary United Front
Revolutionary United Front
The Revolutionary United Front was a rebel army that fought a failed eleven-year war in Sierra Leone, starting in 1991 and ending in 2002. It later developed into a political party, which existed until 2007...
(RUF), which was led by Foday Sankoh
Foday Sankoh
Foday Saybana Sankoh was the leader and founder of the Sierra Leone rebel group Revolutionary United Front in the 11-year-long Sierra Leone Civil War, starting in 1991 and ending in 2002...
. On 7 March 2003, however, Hinga Norman was
indicted by the Special Court for Sierra Leone
Special Court for Sierra Leone
The Special Court for Sierra Leone is an independent judicial body set up to "try those who bear greatest responsibility" for the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Sierra Leone after 30 November 1996 during the Sierra Leone Civil War...
for war crimes and crimes against humanity. He died on 22 February 2007 in Dakar
Dakar
Dakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...
, Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
while undergoing medical treatment. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6387673.stm
Norman married Josephine(née Bayo) Norman around 1951 and had four children; Sam Hinga Norman Jr, Florence Norman, Juliet Norman and Esther Kosia who is married to Saffa Kosia. Norman had seven grandchildren; Mary Kpagoi who is the daughter of Juliet Norman, Musata Tarawally who is the daughter of Florence Norman, Sam Tutange, Bernard Kosia, Bennedict Kosia, Beatrice Kosia who are sons and daughters of Esther Kosia, and Samuel, Ben and Samantha Norman who are daughters and sons of Sam Hinga Norman Jr.
Youth
Sam Hinga Norman was born January 1, 1940 in MongeriMongeri
Mongeri is a town in Bo District in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone. Its population was estimated at 14,273 . The population of Mongeri is mostly from the Mende ethnic group. It is the birthplace of Samuel Hinga Norman, the founder and leader of the traditional Civil Defence Forces ....
, Bo District
Bo District
Bo District is the second most populous district in Sierra Leone and is located in the Southern Province of the country. Its capital and largest city is the city of Bo, which is the second largest city in Sierra Leone. The other major towns in the district include Baoma, Bumpeh, Serabu, Sumbuya,...
, in the Southern Province
Southern Province, Sierra Leone
The Southern Province is one of three provinces of Sierra Leone. It covers an area of 19,694 km² and has a population of 1,377,067 . It consists of four districts . Its capital and administrative center is Bo, which is also the second largest and second most populated city in Sierra Leone...
of Sierra Leone. He joined the Sierra Leone Army in 1959 and served until 1972, ascending to the rank of captain. He also attended school during this time and received a diploma from the Officer's School of Aldershot
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Before his death, he was survived by an elder brother Michael H. Norman who was a distinguished Educationists in Ghana and notable among Michael Norman children is Fred Michael who is presently a director with the Global Resources Inc. Accra Ghana.
Political Service to Sierra Leone
Entering politics, Hinga Norman became Deputy Minister of Defence, serving from April 20, 1998 to May 21, 2002). He then served as Minister of the Interior from May 21, 2002 to March 10, 2004, overlapping his indictment at the Special Court. He also served as the national director of the CDF, and tapped the traditional groups called the Kamajors to serve as a militia.Kamajors
The Kamajors are a group of traditional hunters from the south and east of the country. They were originally employed by local chiefs, but under the leadership of Hinga Norman were used by President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah in 1996 to replace mercenaries (Executive OutcomesExecutive Outcomes
Executive Outcomes was a private military company founded in South Africa by former Lieutenant-Colonel of the South African Defence Force Eeben Barlow in 1989. It later became part of the South African-based holding company Strategic Resource Corporation....
and Sandline International
Sandline International
Sandline International was a private military company based in London, established in the early 1990s. It was involved in conflicts in Papua New Guinea in 1997 causing the Sandline affair, in 1998 in Sierra Leone and in Liberia in 2003 Sandline International was a private military company based...
, both of whom helped train the force) as the security force of the government. At that time members of the Sierra Leone Army (SLA), calling themselves the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council
Armed Forces Revolutionary Council
The Armed Forces Revolutionary Council was a group of Sierra Leone soldiers that allied itself with the rebel Revolutionary United Front in the late 1990s. While the AFRC briefly controlled the country in 1998, it was driven from the capital by a coalition of West African troops...
(AFRC), were supporting Revolutionary United Front
Revolutionary United Front
The Revolutionary United Front was a rebel army that fought a failed eleven-year war in Sierra Leone, starting in 1991 and ending in 2002. It later developed into a political party, which existed until 2007...
(RUF) leader Foday Sankoh
Foday Sankoh
Foday Saybana Sankoh was the leader and founder of the Sierra Leone rebel group Revolutionary United Front in the 11-year-long Sierra Leone Civil War, starting in 1991 and ending in 2002...
against the Kabbah government. The Kamajors integrated themselves into the ECOMOG (a Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
led force) counteroffensive to reinstate Kabbah in 1998 after Freetown
Freetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
was taken by the RUF
Revolutionary United Front
The Revolutionary United Front was a rebel army that fought a failed eleven-year war in Sierra Leone, starting in 1991 and ending in 2002. It later developed into a political party, which existed until 2007...
(backed by Charles Taylor and led by Foday Sankoh) in combination with the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council
Armed Forces Revolutionary Council
The Armed Forces Revolutionary Council was a group of Sierra Leone soldiers that allied itself with the rebel Revolutionary United Front in the late 1990s. While the AFRC briefly controlled the country in 1998, it was driven from the capital by a coalition of West African troops...
, led by Johnny Paul Koroma. The force eventually consisted of over 20,000 men, dwarfing the size of the army and the rebel groups.
Problems of the Kamajors
The Kamajors were not a professionally trained army. They were also made up by soldiers whose allegiances were not always clear. Many fighters in the civil war fought on different sides at different times. This led to the coinage of the term sobel or soldier by day, rebel by night, especially in connection with the SLA. The Kamajors too have been accused of pillaging, terrorizing, and killing. Less ambiguous is the accusation of recruiting soldiers under the age of 15, in clear violation of the Geneva ConventionsGeneva Conventions
The Geneva Conventions comprise four treaties, and three additional protocols, that establish the standards of international law for the humanitarian treatment of the victims of war...
.
Trial at the Special Court for Sierra Leone
Sam Hinga Norman was indicted on March 7, 2003 by the Special Court for Sierra Leone (TSSL). He was arrested on March 10 and plead not guilty on the 15 of the same month.His indictment accused him of
- crimes against humanity for: inhuman murders and acts;
- violations of Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions as well as Additional Protocol II for: acts of terrorism and collective punishmentCollective punishmentCollective punishment is the punishment of a group of people as a result of the behavior of one or more other individuals or groups. The punished group may often have no direct association with the other individuals or groups, or direct control over their actions...
against the civilian population, reached with the physical and mental integrity and the life in particular cruel treatment, plundering; - other serious violations of the humane international law due to enrolment of children of less than 15 years in the armed forces
Norman's trial then began on June 3, 2004 along with those of Moinina Fofana
Moinina Fofana
Moinina Fofana is a Sierra Leonean former military commander who was the leading general in the Kamajors militia and director of the Civil Defence Forces during the Sierra Leone Civil War...
and Allieu Kondewa
Allieu Kondewa
Allieu Kondewa is a former traditional doctor in the Kamajors tribe and military commander of the Civil Defence Forces in Sierra Leone. He was born in the Bo District and lived served until his arrest and subsequent trial by the Special Court for Sierra Leone....
. At the outset of his trial, Norman dissolved his legal team and stated that he wished to represent himself. He later assented to standby counsel representing him. His trial concluded with closing arguments in September 2006. Norman died in custody on 22 February 2007 before verdict after having undergone a surgical procedure in Dakar, Senegal. The trial proceedings against him were accordingly terminated.
External links
- Special Report: Media Response to Samuel Hinga Norman's Death UCB War Crimes Studies Center