Kunti Kamara

Type of liability
Personne physique

Alleged perpetrator(s)
Kunti KAMARA

Nationality of alleged perpetrator(s)
Liberian-Dutch

Legal classification of crime(s)
Torture and acts of barbarity

Source of the complaint
NGO
Victim

Ongoing proceedings
non

Regime
2 - 689-1 CPP

Summary of facts

During the First Liberian Civil War (1989-1996), Kunti Kamara, a former Liberian militiaman and alleged commander of the United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO), allegedly committed, among other things, a series of abuses against civilians between 1993 and 1997, including the torture inflicted on a teacher whose heart he allegedly ate. He allegedly pursued a policy of widespread laissez-faire toward crimes committed by soldiers under his authority, including the repeated rape of teenage girls and enslavement.

Legal proceedings

July 23, 2018: Civitas Maxima and Liberian victims filed a complaint with the Paris public prosecutor for “torture and acts of barbarity”. 
September 4, 2018: Kunti Kamara was arrested by the OCLCH (Central Office for Combating Crimes against Humanity and Hate Crimes). He was subsequently indicted and placed in pre-trial detention. 
September 6, 2019: Kunti Kamara was released and placed under judicial supervision before being placed in pre-trial detention again in January 2020 for having failed 
to comply with an obligation related to his release. 
In November 2020: the Investigating Chamber agreed to extend the indictment to “crimes against humanity”. 
April 2, 2021: the Investigating Chamber confirmed his indictment. 
From October 10 to November 2, 2022: his trial took place in Paris. 
November 2, 2022: Kunti Kamara was found guilty of “complicity in the crimes against humanity of torture for the rapes and sexual slavery committed by his subordinates” and of “acts of torture and barbarity”. Kunti Kamara was sentenced to life imprisonment. He appealed. 
From March 5 to 27, 2024: his appeal trial took place before the Paris Assize Court of Appeal. 
March 27, 2024: on appeal, the Paris Assize Court sentenced Kunti Kamara to thirty years’ imprisonment. This is the first conviction in France for rape amounting to crimes against humanity. Kunti Kamara appealed to the Court of Cassation. 
In June 2024: the Court of Cassation declared the appeal lapsed for failure to comply with the statutory deadline for filing the defense brief. This decision ended the proceedings.

Legal issues

First conviction in France for rape amounting to crimes against humanity.

Complaint

non

Names of NGOs / Victim(s)

Civitas Maxima

Legal basis for jurisdiction (article)

689-2 CCP

Court of Assizes judgment

The Paris Assize Court sentenced Kunti Kamara to life imprisonment for “acts of barbarity” committed during the First Liberian Civil War (1989-1996) and for being an “accomplice to crimes against humanity” by condoning the rapes of Esther N. and Rebecca K.

Court of Appeal ruling

Sentenced to thirty years’ imprisonment. First conviction in France for rape amounting to crimes against humanity.

Court of Cassation ruling

The Court of Cassation declared the appeal lapsed for failure to comply with the statutory deadline for filing the defense brief. This decision ended the proceedings.

Sources

Civitas Maxima, GJRP, « The Kunti K. Case », 2021

Civitas Maxima, « Kunti Kamara »

Human Rights Watch, « France : Condamnation prononcée pour des atrocités commises au Liberia », 2022

Franceinfo, « Crimes contre l'humanité au Liberia : l'ex-rebelle Kunti Kamara condamné à la réclusion à perpétuité », 2022

Le Monde, « Crimes contre l’humanité : l’ex-commandant rebelle libérien Kunti Kamara condamné à Paris, en appel, à trente ans de réclusion », 2024

Trial International,« Universal Jurisdiction Annual Review », 2025