war crimes in africa

war crimes in africaSec. 589. (a) The Congress recognizes the important contribution that the democratically elected Government of Nigeria has played in fostering stability in West Africa, including reaching an agreement with the Government of Liberia to provide relief and promote reconciliation in that nation. The Congress also recognizes the important contributions of other African nations and supports continued assistance aimed at resolving the conflicts that have destabilized West Africa and the Great Lakes region.(b) The Congress reaffirms its support for the efforts of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) to bring to justice individuals responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity in a timely manner.(c) Funds appropriated by this Act, including funds for debt restructuring, may be made available for assistance to the central government of a country in which individuals indicted by ICTR and SCSL are credibly alleged to be living, if the Secretary of State determines and reports to the Committees on Appropriations that such government is cooperating with ICTR and SCSL, including the surrender and transfer of indictees in a timely manner: Provided, That this subsection shall not apply to assistance provided under section 551 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or to project assistance under title II of this Act: Provided further, That the United States shall use its voice and vote in the United Nations Security Council to fully support efforts by ICTR and SCSL to bring to justice individuals indicted by such tribunals in a timely manner.(d) The prohibition in subsection (c) may be waived on a country by country basis if the President determines that doing so is in the national security interest of the United States: Provided, That prior to exercising such waiver authority, the President shall report to the Committees on Appropriations, in classified form if necessary, on: (1) the steps being taken to obtain the cooperation of the government in surrendering the indictee in question to SCSL or118 STAT. 207 ICTR; (2) a strategy for bringing the indictee before ICTR or SCSL; and (3) the justification for exercising the waiver authority.(e) Of the funds made available under the heading “Economic Support Fund” in Public Law 108–7, not less than $5,000,000 shall be made available during fiscal year 2004 for a contribution to the Special Court of Sierra Leone: Provided, That funds made available under the previous proviso shall be disbursed no later than 30 days after enactment of this Act.