I marts 2003 blev Charles Taylor anklaget af anklageren for særdomstolen i Sierra Leone for 17 tilfælde af forbrydelser mod menneskeheden og krigsforbrydelser, herunder mord, lemlæstelse, voldtægt, seksuelt slaveri og rekruttering af børnesoldater.
We now know that sovereign immunity no longer applies for war crimes, but the group has also pointed out that Taylor has breached the terms of his asylum by interfering in Liberian politics ahead of the elections scheduled there for October and by financing parties sympathetic to him with money he obtained corruptly through the diamond trade when in power as President.