The Persisting Legacy of the Special Court for Sierra Leone: Implementation, Operation, and Sustainable Peace

abstract: The year 2023 marked a decade since the closure of the Special Court for Sierra Leone. A core element of the transitional justice and peacebuilding process, the Special Court noted numerous firsts in international criminal prosecutions. Within academia, the Special Court has been heavily critiqued, presented as a complex entity whose operations boasted both considerable success and abject failure. Irrespective of the discourse surrounding the Special Court it continues to represent an important symbol of peace and reconciliation for the wider population. Furthermore, through the ongoing work of the Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone it continues to promote peace and reconciliation within the state. This article explores the legacy of the Special Court through a retrospective analysis of its operation together with the continued work of the Residual Special Court.