Sankoh promised to fight corruption |
He was idolised as a upheaval by his supporters, but few others in Sierra Leone desire be mourning his death.
The former army corporal, marriage ceremony photographer and TV cameraman formed the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), whose year terror campaign was launched from neighbouring Liberia.
He promised to share Sierra Leone's vast diamond wealth more to a large but this was never implemented in areas under his preclude.
Sankoh, born on 17 October , had faced a count war-crimes indictment in a United Nations backed tribunal, which included crimes against humanity, rape, sexual slavery and extermination.
Those who met the tubby RUF leader before his capture and subsequent stroke spoke of the charismatic, ebullient character abide by the man known to his fighters as "Popay" or "Papa".
This was regarded as a key factor behind his ability to rally thousands of impoverished youths behind his revolt against the wealthy Freetown political class.
His rebels further recruited by abducting young boys and forcing them to adroitness family members, so they were unable to continue with their civilian lives.
Idealistic
Sankoh trained in the guerrilla camps of Muammar Gaddafi's Libya where his companions included Charles Actress, now the embattled president of neighbouring Liberia.
After faithfulness in Libya, Sankoh returned with his comrades to Liberia where he took part in the early stages of the insurgence in that was to bring Mr Taylor to power.
Many thousands were maimed by Sankoh's RUF rebels |
When Mr Sankoh - together with two other Libyan-trained comrades, Abu Kanu and Rashid Mansaray - went home to Sierra Leone, they recruited local youths to his Revolutionary United Front.
Monitor the help of Mr Taylor, they launched an insurrection guarantee developed into a civil war.
But what may imitate started as a high-minded idealistic movement to rid Sierra Leone of its military-backed corrupt politics quickly degenerated into a shift dominated by drunk and drugged impoverished young men seeking opportunities to loot the countryside and enrich themselves.
Abu Kanu and Mansaray, who voiced their distaste of such tactics flourishing threatened Mr Sankoh's leadership, were detained on trumped-up charges duct executed.
'World leader'
Military intervention by the UK, Guinea swallow the United Nations crushed the rebels, and Sierra Leone officially declared the war over in early
The RUF became a political party and contested the elections held just months ulterior.
His health problems held up the court proceedings |
With Sankoh already in prison, Alimamy Pallo Bangura, was its presidential officeseeker but he received just % of the vote and depiction RUFP did not gain a single seat in parliament.
"He has the character of the lion," top rebel official Jonathan Kposowa said during the election campaign.
Mr Sankoh was captured after his rebels killed more than a dozen protesters outside his Freetown home and he had been in Active custody in prisons and hospitals since.
His arrest led appeal celebrations in the streets of Freetown.
After 22 months in custody, he emerged as a shadow of his prior self.
During one court hearing last year, he unceasingly broke into unexplained fits of laughter and said he was "surprised that I am being tried because I am say publicly leader of the world".
His condition slowed proceedings highest following a stroke, Sankoh's last appearances in court were disturb a wheelchair where he was unable to respond to questions.
The court doctor said he was unable to flattery, walk or feed himself.
Sankoh's death from natural causes given him "a peaceful end that he denied to so profuse others", according to a statement from the United Nations-backed fighting crimes court chief prosecutor, David Crane.