In a momentous decision for West Africa and the international justice system, a special court yesterday held the former Liberian president and regional strongman Charles Taylor responsible for crimes against humanity committed by rebel forces he supported in Sierra Leone more than 10 years ago.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Wednesday expressed deep concern about current or recent moves in a number of countries to curtail the freedom of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other civil society actors to operate independently and effectively.

The International Criminal Court on Tuesday warned Mali it is considering investigating reports of killings, rapes and other war crimes it fears may have been committed since January when fighting erupted there, triggering a wider crisis

The International Criminal Court on Wednesday threw out an appeal filed by Libya against the court’s demand that Muammar Qaddafi’s jailed son be transferred to The Hague.

President Kibaki has said Kenya has not lost hope of having four of its nationals facing crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court (ICC) tried at home.

Kromah fought with former Liberian president — and warlord — Charles Taylor and the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) and later an opposition faction, United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO-K). He was among those who went through the United Nation’s disarmament and reintegration programs but those projects were short-lived and inadequate, he says.

Although the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, ICC, says he will continue investigating two top Kenyan officials, observers doubt these cases will be revived and instead expect the court to focus on four other suspects who are due to stand trial.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir said on Monday there will be no more talks with South Sudan, as fresh Sudanese air raids drew swift condemnation from the United States and France.

Leading rights groups urged Nepal on Monday to drop plans for a blanket amnesty over thousands of killings and other atrocities committed during the country's ten-year civil war.

President Alassane Ouattara has started a working visit to the volatile western part of Cote D’Ivoire to ask for peace, forgiveness and reconciliation of the country.