- population: 5.7 million - median age: 19 years - capitol: freetown - language: english, krio...
TRANSCRIPT
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