Fighters in Sierra Leone raped and killed Halimatu Jalloh’s sister during the country’s civil war, but last night the 27-year-old student felt the pain of her loss ease with the conviction of Charles Taylor, the Liberian leader who backed the rebels.

In a historic ruling, an international court today convicted former Liberian President Charles Taylor of aiding and abetting war crimes and crimes against humanity for supporting brutal rebels in neighbouring Sierra Leone in return for “blood diamonds”.

Kenya's president signed a new constitution into law today that institutes a US-style system of checks and balances and has been hailed as the most significant political event since Kenya's independence nearly a half century ago.

Former Liberian President Charles Taylor boycotted the resumption of his war crimes trial in The Hague, Netherlands, today, the second time he has failed to show up to face charges of arming Sierra Leone rebels and orchestrating a murderous terror campaign during that country’s 10-year civil war.

Former Liberian president Charles Taylor goes on trial today for allegedly orchestrating unspeakable atrocities in Sierra Leone’s bloody civil war.