The devastating eleven-year armed conflict in Sierra Leone was characterized by extreme brutality and widespread human rights abuses against civilians. The majority of the crimes were perpetrated by rebels from the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF).
What is the biggest problem in Sierra Leone?
Sierra Leone has been a nation plagued with civil wars and poverty since gaining independence in 1961. Despite being one of the few countries in the world that has precious natural resources such as diamonds and rare minerals, this nation continues to suffer from extreme poverty.
When did the civil war start in Sierra Leone?
Date 23 March 1991 18 January 2002 (10 years, 9 months, 3 weeks and 5 days)
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Location Sierra Leone
Result Commonwealth victory
What was the RUF fighting for?
When it was first formed, the RUF put forward the slogan, "No More Slaves, No More Masters. Power and Wealth to the People." While its goal was clearly to change the government of Sierra Leone, the RUF gave little indication of what sort of government would replace it.
Is there still conflict in Sierra Leone?
The RUF continued the civil war. In January 1999, world leaders intervened to promote negotiations between the RUF and the government. The Lome Peace Accord was signed on July 7, 1999. On , newly installed President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah declared the Sierra Leone Civil War had finally ended.
Why was there conflict in Sierra Leone?
The Sierra Leone Civil War began in 1991 and lasted 11 years. Beginning in March 1991, the people of Sierra Leone wanted to overthrow the current government, oust corrupt politicians, and redistribute the resources of the country.
What problems does Sierra Leone have?
Development Challenges Until the outbreak of Ebola in 2014, Sierra Leone was seeking to attain middle-income status by 2035, but the country still carries its post-conflict attributes of high youth unemployment, corruption, and weak governance.
Why Sierra Leone is a poor country?
Experts believe that four primary factors contribute to Sierra Leone's overwhelming levels of poverty: government corruption, a lack of an established education system, absence of civil rights and poor infrastructure. These factors make poverty difficult to beat.Aug 4, 2020
Why is Sierra Leone's economy struggling?
Sierra Leon's economy has been hurt by the COVID–19 pandemic. Real GDP was estimated to contract by 2.7% in 2020 after growing by 5.4% in 2019. The decline was attributable to weak external demand for major exports, particularly diamonds, and to declines in the mining, transport, trade, and tourism sectors.
Is Sierra Leone a poor or rich country?
Sierra Leone remains among the world's poorest countries, ranking 180th out of 187 countries in the Human Development Index in 2011. Decades of economic decline and 11 years of armed conflict had dramatic consequences on the economy.
What caused the war in Sierra Leone?
The sale of Sierra Leone's diamonds came to be known as ''conflict diamonds,'' financing a civil war that would see 50,000 civilians killed and millions displaced. One major cause of the continued war was the government, already dealing with corruption and a failing economy, could not defend itself.
What has happened in Sierra Leone?
Sierra Leone has suffered a number of recent tragedies. In March, more than 80 people were injured in a fire that swept through one of Freetown's slums, displacing more than 5,000 residents. In 2017, over 1,000 people were killed in a mudslide caused by heavy rains.
Why did they cut off hands in Sierra Leone?
In response to the immediate execution of rebels by government forces, the RUF instituted a policy of cutting off the hands of captured soldiers with the intent of sending the message: "You don't hold your weapon against your brother." Brandishing machetes, RUF rebels amputated the hands, arms, and legs of tens of