Sierra Leone: Current Issues and Background

The small, underdeveloped countries of Africa, seem to harbour all the flammable elements necessary to ignite civil wars and revolutions. Since 1991, the small West African country of Sierra Leone has been besieged by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), a guerrilla group-cum-political party, that implored a radical-populist political agenda. The cause of this conflict was the growth of systemic government corruption in the decades following the 1961 independence, which ultimately led to a severe deterioration of the state governing capacity. The contention over the control of the country's vast mineral wealth, which includes diamonds, as well as foreign interference -- notably from the Liberian government, with which the RUF reportedly traded diamonds for arms -- further fuelled the struggle. The 1999 Lomé Peace Accord brought about an end to the conflict. RUF leadership changes and a cease-fire agreement in 2000 followed by conflict resolution meetings between government, RUF and UN officials also contributed to a more peaceful situation in Sierra Leone. This book explores the struggle facing the people of Sierra Leone in adopting to these new changes as well as the UN's sponsored disarmament efforts and electoral support for the new government. The hand that the United States has had in delivering humanitarian assistance to this country will be examined as well as the efforts made to try those guilty of crimes against humanity.