The Canadian documentary “Betrayal”, directed by Lena Macdonald, chronicles the whistleblowing of Cindor Reeves crucial to the war crimes conviction of Liberian President Charles Taylor by the United Nations backed special court for Sierra Leone in 2012. Taylor was convicted of sexual violence, physical violence, abductions, terrorizing civilian populations, forced labour and utilization of child soldiers.
It was the brother-in-law of Charles Taylor, Cindor Reeves, that provided much of the information used to convict Taylor garnered through copying and downloading documents, eavesdropping and through knowledge of the players and transactions in the evil game of profiteering from blood diamonds that funded his civil war, that in Sierra Leone and even Al Qaeda.
Cindor’s sister married Taylor and Cindor as a young boy found his way to luxury living in Monrovia with his sister and Taylor a giant step from rural poverty. Taylor acted as a mentor for Cindor providing an education including on the political game and paternal guidance. Taylor an all-around nice guy until Cindor realized his promises of democracy were but a ploy for power while he organized a coup against Liberian President Samuel Doe and pursued a civil war in Liberia and in Sierra Leone to amass blood diamond and mineral wealth. Some estimated 250,000 were killed in the Liberian civil war with 203 mass graves found.
While acting as a liaison officer for the Taylor government in 1999 a contingent of Washington Post journalists visited Sierra Leone and deep throat Reeves helped them expose the blood diamond trade with Sierra Leone diamonds with Taylor the kingpin. Reeves notes that the international community and private enterprises assisted or turned a blind eye to the blood diamond trade that enriched Taylor and enabled him to purchase arms and smuggle them into Liberia.
Reeves eventually ended up in Canada after departing Liberia, Ghana, Netherlands and Germany with promises of extended witness protection quickly forgotten after Taylor’s conviction. An attempt was made on his life by Taylor supporters in Ghana. Wherever he may be now he fears for his life.
Canada granted asylum to Reeve’s wife and two children but strangely deported him. Justice may have been done to Taylor with a 50-year prison sentence but Reeves, the man who made it possible was left out hanging to dry separated from his family. Strange recognition for his services to the international community.
Reeves no doubt is a betrayer to Taylor but justifiably so. Taylor is also a betrayer to Liberia using fine sounding promises of democracy and the rule of law. The international community betrayed Reeves by failing to offer him security and funding. And what redress and justice for the victims of Taylor in Sierra Leone and Liberia. Retribution has a nice ring to it but for Taylor’s victims it isn’t worth much.
A word to the wise. Don’t be overrun by the multitude of facts in the documentary and focus on the generalities of family, loyalty, the teachery of politics and the two faces of Charles Taylor.
“Betrayal” completed its screenings at Toronto 2025 Hot Docs but its international run will continue.
RKS 2025 CANADIAN Documentary Rating 82/100.
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