The arrest of Mr. Charles Taylor, the former president of Liberia, and his arraignment before a United Nations-sponsored war-crimes court, could herald the beginning of a new era in Africa. Mr. Taylor is the first African head of state to be held responsible for the atrocities he set in motion during his bloody reign. For too long, the continent's leaders have acted with impunity and enjoyed virtual immunity no matter how horrific their behavior. Mr. Taylor's arrest and trial provide hope that time has passed.
Mr. Taylor was a warlord. His concern was personal enrichment and power. His aim was securing control over the rich diamond fields of western Africa. To get his hands on those beyond his country's borders, Mr. Taylor backed rebel groups in neighboring countries. His favorite tool was a local militia, often made up of child soldiers -- frequently kidnapped to serve him. They were infamous for hacking off the hands and arms of enemies and civilians, and for raping women. It is estimated that he is responsible for as many as 300,000 deaths during the decade of conflict he sponsored and supported in Sierra Leone.
In 2003, an escalating civil war at home finally drove him from office. He accepted exile in Nigeria, but vowed to return home. Despite promising to retire from politics, he was accused of fomenting more conflict in Liberia and elsewhere in the region from his base in Nigeria.