This article explores the nature of, and variation within, war crimes committed during the Sierra Leone civil war. Drawing upon testimonies given before the Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Committee and from trials held by the Special Court for Sierra Leone, this article establishes that crimes were committed by all belligerents in the war. However, the type of crime, the frequency, and the motivation of crimes varied widely among the different armed forces. By contexting these acts within the aims, composition, and position of the various warring parties, this article discusses the role violations of the Geneva Conventions played in the short- and long-term goals of each army.

本文探讨了在塞拉利昂内战期间犯下的战争罪行的性质和内部变化。根据塞拉利昂真相与和解委员会的证词以及塞拉利昂问题特别法庭的审判，本文确定战争中所有交战方均犯下了罪行。然而，犯罪的类型，发生的频率和犯罪的动机在不同的武装部队之间差异很大。通过在各个交战方的目标，组成和地位中对这些行为进行背景分析，本文讨论了在每支部队的短期和长期目标中违反《日内瓦公约》的行为。