SIERRA LEONE

Facts

- Population: 5.7 million- Median age: 19 years

- Capitol: Freetown- Language: English, Krio (Creole language

that comes from English), various African languages

- Religion: 60% Islam, 30% Christianity, 10% African Indigenous- Sierra Leone is known for its religions residing

peacefully with each other

The beginning of Civil War

Sierra Leone is rich in minerals, especially diamonds

The government had a long history of corruption, including pocketing money from diamonds and smuggling

Anyone who tried to take overthe government was tried fortreason and hung.

Revolutionary United Front

The RUF wanted the government to share the wealth amongst the people from the diamond mines

Wanted free education and health care Slogan: “No more Slaves, no more

Masters. Power and Wealth to the People.”

The people of Sierra Leone originally believed the RUF would bring about positive change

RUF Leaders

FODAY SANKOH CHARLES TAYLOR

Was trained in military tactics in Libya and Liberia

Led the RUF Wanted the

government to give more money to the people

22nd President of Liberia

Backed the RUF in order to keep other rebel groups from Liberia

Provided arms to the RUF in exchange for smuggled diamonds

Sankoh and the RUF attacked eastern Sierra Leone in 1991, marking the start of the 11 year civil war

The government did not have the resources to fight off the RUF

Not a year after the RUF first attacked Sierra Leone, the army turned on the government and took over

The RUF soon controlled most of the cash crops and the government diamond mines

Instead of giving the money from diamonds back to the people, Sankoh used the money to buy more arms

The people who originally supported the RUF soon began to question what the RUF stood for

Presidential elections were held in 1996 Alhaji Dr. Ahmed Tejan Kabbah won The RUF would not recognize the results

In 1996, a UN Envoy tried to negotiate a peace treaty, but before one could be reached, the military joined forces with the RUF to take over the government in a joint junta

President Kabbah went into exile

By 1998, the RUF had taken Freetown and had control of over half the country

Multiple attempts at peace and ceasefires had failed

In 1999, the UN ordered 6,000 peacekeeping forces into Sierra Leone to help the government fight the RUF

By 2000, the UN led forces had increased to 13,000

The RUF responded by kidnapping hundreds of UN peacekeepers and refusing to ceasefires

By 2002, the UN army peacekeepers had unarmed over 75,000 soldiers from both sides and declared the war officially over

In 2004, the UN war crimes court began holding trials for leaders on both sides

In 2005, UN peacekeeping forces officially pulled out of Sierra Leone

War Atrocities

The RUF is most known for the crimes committed against civilians and children

Child Soldiers

10,000 child soldiers are estimated to have participated in the war

Today, 2000 children are still soldiers in the army

Children were often given drugs such as cocaine to make them numb to what they were doing

Initiations into the RUF included cutting the letters into the chest, killing prisoners, and raiding villages for supplies and more recruits

The RUF was notorious for cutting off the limbs of civilians as a message to the government

They also forced prisoners to work in the diamond mines and in other slave like jobs

Causalities of War

It is estimated anywhere between 150,000 and 200,000 people died in the war from various causes

More then half the country became homeless

600,000 people became refugees 200,000 women were raped 1,000 civilians had one or more limbs

amputated

Present Day Sierra Leone

While much progress has been made, there is still a long way to go

The government still struggles with corruption based on the diamond trade

Only half of the population has access to clean water

Only 35% of the population is literate 47% of males 23% of females

Conflict, or Blood, diamonds are still a source of controversy in the international community

The country has worked hard to reinstate schools, continue to fight HIV/AIDS and rehabilitate child soldiers

Most of its funding comes from international investors

E-luminate

E-luminate is proud to be able to continue its mission of raising global awareness in American students and helping the education of others in Sierra Leone

We thank you for your interest in the program and for helping children reach their educational goals

References

www.enotes.com/genocide-encyclopedia/sierra-leone www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sl.html www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/past/unamsil/

background.html Beah, Ishmael. (2007). A long way gone: Memoirs of a boy

soldier. Sarah Crichton Books. New York. www.usaid.gov/our_work/cross-cutting-programs/conflict/

focus_areas/natural_resources.html www.diamondboycott.com www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2000/08/junger200008 www.polarisimages.com/Polaris-News/archives/2007/07/

yannis_kontos_w_4.html Gberie, Lansana (2005). A dirty war in West Africa: the RUF and

the destruction of Sierra Leone. C. Hurst & Co. Publishers. www.cocorioko.net