Why did the Sierra Leone Civil War start?
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. This helped launch a global campaign against diamonds mined in conflict zones.
Is Sierra Leone still at war?
With help from United Nations forces, British troops, and Guinean air support, the Sierra Leone Army finally defeated the RUF before they could take control of Freetown. On January 18, 2002, newly installed President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah declared the Sierra Leone Civil War had finally ended.
How many people died in the Sierra Leonean civil war?
70,000 casualties
Sierra Leone has been ravaged by a civil war that lasted from 1991 to 2002, and resulted in some 70,000 casualties and 2.6 million displaced people.
What happened to the child soldiers in Sierra Leone?
Many boys belonged to the infamous Small Boys Unit. This reputation for violence was one of the key barriers to reintegration. Child soldiers had lost their childhoods and been traumatized, but many could not return home because they were seen as murderers.
Are there still child soldiers in Africa?
A recent UN report verified that 8,521 children were used as soldiers in 2020, while another 2,674 children were killed and 5,748 injured in various conflicts. According to some estimates, up to 40% of child soldiers are in Africa.
When did the Civil War in Sierra Leone start?
The Sierra Leone Civil War (1991–2002) The Sierra Leone Civil War was an armed conflict in the West African country of Sierra Leone from 1991–2002.
Who was the leader of Sierra Leone in 1991?
The war began on March 23, 1991, when the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) under Foday Sankoh, with support of Liberian rebel leader Charles Taylor and his group, the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NFPL), attempted to overthrow the government of Sierra Leonean President Joseph Momah.
When was the AFRC overthrown in Sierra Leone?
The AFRC was overthrown in February 1998 by Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) troops, who intervened with the support of the international community.
What was the role of blood diamonds in Sierra Leone?
Attempts by the government of Sierra Leone to stop this corruption were unsuccessful. Blood diamonds became the fuel that fed the civil war fires. Blood diamonds are any diamonds that have been mined in a zone of conflict and sold for profit to finance war efforts.