A former rebel leader accused of using child soldiers during Liberia’s devastating civil wars has been sent back from the United States.
Officials confirmed that 43 year old Mayama Sesay, widely known as Black Diamond, was deported to Liberia earlier this month following prolonged immigration proceedings.
Sesay first entered the U.S in 2014 on a visitor’s visa and later tried to secure permanent residency through marriage, but the case eventually fell apart.
According to U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Sesay was infamous for recruiting child fighters and leading an all female rebel battalion.
She was portrayed as a ruthless commander, accused of beating detainees, restraining her own fighters, and ordering mortar fire that terrorized both civilians and soldiers.
Although she denied the allegations, an immigration judge ruled her testimony unreliable and found that she had engaged in the forced conscription of children.
ICE agents in Atlanta detained her in April, marking the end of her long legal struggle in the U.S.
She was deported on September 5, with American authorities labeling her a war criminal tied to atrocities during Liberia’s conflict.
Liberian immigration services confirmed her return, clarifying that she faces no formal charges at the moment, though she remains under government supervision.
