X‑9 alleged that former Revolutionary United Front (RUF) commander Gibril Massaquoi abducted him from his school in Sierra Leone and forced him to carry arms and ammunition for the RUF over long distances until they reached Liberia. He expressed regret, saying that if it had not been for Massaquoi’s actions his life would be better now—perhaps he would have a master’s degree and a stable future for his children. Instead, he described his life as ruined by the man now facing prosecution for mass murder, rape, torture and other atrocities committed during Liberia’s second civil war (1997‑2003).
The issue of forced labour and forced transport has repeatedly arisen on appeal. In the Pirkanmaa Court District of Tampere, Massaquoi was acquitted nearly a year ago on the basis of “reasonable doubt.” Prosecutors argue that the lower court erred in that decision and in its handling of other crimes. They also claim that Massaquoi, who had been an informant for the UN‑backed Special Court, violated the court’s rules by traveling to Liberia to fight in the war between 2002 and 2003. Massaquoi’s lawyers reject this allegation, but many prosecution witnesses have corroborated each other’s testimonies.
X‑9 testified that Massaquoi and other RUF soldiers were in Liberia in 2002. “We came to Liberia and we went to Kamatahun in Lofa County,” he said, adding that he and his friends, who had been abducted, were not fighters. He told the court that from Lofa they moved to Monrovia, where they saw Benjamin Yeaten—a top commander for President Charles Taylor—Sam Bockarie and other senior Taylor and RUF fighters.
During cross‑examination, defence lawyers presented photographs that X‑9 had told Finnish police belonged to Massaquoi when they visited Liberia in 2019. Although he initially said the photos were found in Kalahun, he later claimed they were discovered in the house where Massaquoi, Bockarie and other fighters lived, showing inconsistency in his statements. The hearings continue on Friday.
The coverage of the appeal of Massaquoi’s acquittal is a collaboration with New Narratives as part of the West Africa Justice Reporting Project.
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