The Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS) Court on Friday ordered the Sierra Leonean authorities to pay a compensation of $15,000 in damages every to 2 of its residents for violating their rights to safety.
The two residents – Hassan Kargbo and Mohamed Fornah – had in a swimsuit requested the court docket to implement their rights following a violent quelling of protests by safety forces within the West African nation.
The police and armed forces had allegedly used reside ammunition and tear gasoline in opposition to unarmed younger demonstrators which led to the demise and accidents of many through the demonstrations.
Justice Gberi-Bè Ouattara, who delivered the judgment, held that Sierra Leone violated the candidates’ elementary rights.
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Other members of the panel are Justice Ricardo Gonçalves (chairman) and Justice Edward Asante.
The court docket famous that the Sierra Leonean authorities failed in its obligation to the candidates, and neither appeared nor introduced a defence earlier than the court docket.
The court docket, due to this fact, delivered the judgment in opposition to Sierra Leone by default.
It additionally ordered the Sierra Leonean authorities to analyze to establish and prosecute these answerable for the violence, which occurred in Makeni on July 17 and 18, 2020.
The court docket equally ordered the state to take measures to forestall the extreme use of drive throughout peaceable demonstrations within the nation going ahead.
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