Sierra Leone ‘Deports’ Taylor Ally Ibrahim Bah

{{A former ally of Liberia’s ex-President Charles Taylor has been deported from Sierra Leone to his home country of Senegal, a government minister has said.}}

Ibrahim Bah, also known as Ibrahim Baldeh, was subject to a UN travel ban and was due in court to face charges related to Sierra Leone’s civil war.

A recent UN panel of experts report said he supplied arms to rebels during the 11-year conflict.

Sierra Leone’s justice minister said he was unaware of the private prosecution.

Frank Kargbo who also serves as Sierra Leone’s attorney general told media that Mr Bah was deported about two weeks ago and put on a Dakar-bound flight.

“It was out of consideration for the best interests of the country that the government decided to expel Baldeh from its territory,” said Mr Kargbo.

It said he supplied arms to Sierra Leonean rebels during war and was a close aide to Taylor, Liberia’s leader until 2003.

Last year, Taylor was sentenced to 50 years in prison for war crimes by providing arms and support to the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels in Sierra Leone during its 1991-2002 civil war.

He is appealing against the sentence handed down by the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone sitting in The Hague.

{Ibrahim Bah, a former ally of Liberia’s ex-President Charles Taylor }
{wirestory}