Since March 1991, Sierra Leone has experienced continuous civil strife culminating in a protracted civil war, leading to widespread destructions of infrastructures and property , and the death of thousands of people, many more injured and over half of the population displaced.
What happened after the civil war in Sierra Leone?
Sierra Leoneans rebuilt schools and clinics, repaired roads and relaunched large-scale mining operations . The economy’s output doubled in the 10 years following the war. Multiparty democracy was successfully restored both at the national and local level.
How many people were affected by the civil war in Sierra Leone?
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 are the effect of civil war?
The Civil War confirmed the single political entity of the United States, led to freedom for more than four million enslaved Americans , established a more powerful and centralized federal government, and laid the foundation for America’s emergence as a world power in the 20th century.
What caused the conflict in Sierra Leone?
Sierra Leone’s 11-year long civil war began in early 1991 with a small band of well-armed and funded guerrilla rebels, called the Revolutionary United Front (RUF). ... One major cause of the continued war was the government , already dealing with corruption and a failing economy, could not defend itself.
Why did the RUF cut off hands?
The RUF indicated that the reason for these actions was that amputees could no longer mine diamonds , which might be used to support government troops. The election slogan at that time was that the people ‘had power in their hands’, so the RUF would hack the hands off to prevent voting.
Why did they use child soldiers in Sierra Leone?
Children also served as messengers and porters, and young girls were conscripted into sexual slavery or forcibly married to generals. Children are chosen to be soldiers because they are easily manipulated . They are more loyal and obedient than adults and they are far less likely to revolt.
What are 3 effects of the Civil War?
It had many important repercussions which went on to have a deep and long lasting impact on the nation. Among these were the Emancipation Proclamation; the Assassination of President Lincoln; the Reconstruction of Southern America; and the Jim Crow Laws .
What are 3 main causes of the Civil War?
For nearly a century, the people and politicians of the Northern and Southern states had been clashing over the issues that finally led to war: economic interests, cultural values, the power of the federal government to control the states, and, most importantly, slavery in American society .
What were the positive and negative effects of the Civil War?
Some positive outcomes from the Civil War was the newfound freedom of slaves and the improvement in women’s reform . Some negative outcomes from the Civil War was the South’s loss of land and crop from the devastated land left behind and the South’s hold on to racism.
Is Blood Diamond a true story?
The diamond industry is abuzz over the new film Blood Diamond, a fictional account of rebel militias in Sierra Leone fueling a bloody civil war through the sale of the precious gems. ... FOREIGN POLICY: Blood Diamond stars Leonardo DiCaprio as an African mercenary on the hunt for a massive pink diamond.
How did blood diamonds affect Sierra Leone?
The war between 1991 and 1999 claimed over 75,000 lives, caused 500,000 Sierra Leoneans to become refugees, and displaced half of the countries 4.5 million people[6]. Also during this period, the Sierra Leone economy was being cheated out of millions of dollars in the form of illegal diamonds.
Did the RUF take Freetown?
The RUF joined with the AFRC to capture Freetown with little resistance. ... With help from a renewed UN mandate and Guinean air support, the British Operation Palliser finally defeated the RUF , taking control of Freetown. On 18 January 2002, President Kabbah declared the Sierra Leone Civil War over.
What country was blood diamond about?
Sierra Leone —the setting for much of the film Blood Diamond—has improved as well, though the country’s recent Ebola outbreak set back some of that progress.
Who was the leader of the RUF?
Sierra Leone’s Revolutionary United Front (RUF) has chosen Issa Sesay , its top field commander, as its new leader, the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) reported on Monday. Sesay replaces Foday Sankoh, who has been detained by the authorities since 17 May and is viewed by many as an obstacle to the peace process.
Is there still war 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 January 18, 2002, newly installed President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah declared the Sierra Leone Civil War had finally ended .
