History
Pre 1990 | 1990-1999 | Current
Situation | Influencers | Relevant
LinksInfluencers
Revolutionary
United Front(RUF)In 1991 the RUF, led by Foday Sankoh, a former army corporal and photographer, began their attacks in the south and east of Sierra Leone. The group was financially assisted by Charles Taylor, the Liberian rebel leader based in Burkina Faso. New recruits for the RUF were made by force. Many of these were abducted children who were later used as labourers, sex slaves and fighters.
Sierra Leone Web's information on the RUF/SL
Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC)
The AFRC, led by Major Johnny Paul, deposed the Kabbah government in May 1997 and became the illegal military government. The AFRC consists of disaffected members of the Sierra Leone Army (SLA) and escaped criminals. It ushered in a period of anarchy and was responsible for gross human rights violations including rape, amputation and murder.
Sierra Leone Web's copy of AFRC statement on their position in Sierra Leone
ECOWAS Cease-fire Monitoring Group (ECOMOG)
Regional armed intervention force sponsored by the United Nations through theEconomic Organisation of West AfricanStates (ECOWAS). A direct result of the West's
policy of
disengagement referred to as responsible sub-regionalpolicing,
the force was first deployed to stop the civil war in
Liberia. A pre-condition to the eventual peaceagreement
in Liberia was the withdrawal of ECOMOG from the country.
The force was transferred immediately to SierraLeone
where it returned the democratically elected Kabbah
government to power after the AFRC coup d'etat.Official web site for ECOWAS
United Nations Observer Mission in Siera Leone (UNOMSIL)
UNOMSIL was formed following the October 1999 United Nations Security Council resolution to field a peace keeping mission in Sierra Leone in response to the signing of the Lome Peace accord on 7 July 1999. It is composed of Indian, Kenyan and Nigerian troops. In January 2000 ECOMOG was asked to hand over responsibility for Sierra Leone's security to UNOMSIL. However, following delays in the deployment of UN peacekeepers, ECOMOG were required to stay on.
Official web site for UNOMSIL
Kabbah Government
In March 1996, the Kabbah Government, led by Ahmed Tejan Kabbah, became the first democratically elected government to be inaugurated in 34 years. They were re-instated again after the AFRC coup d'etat in March 1998. As a result of the Lome peace accord, the Government now includes rebel leaders Foday Sankoh of the RUF and Johnny Paul Koroma of the AFRC along with several rebel officials.
Official web site for the Sierra Leone Government
Executive Outcomes
Executive Outcomes is a South African company which hires out the services of professional soldiers. It was introduced to the Kabbah government through the diamond mining company, Branch Energy, and in 1998 effectively co-coordinated the recapture ofFreetown from the AFRC junta forces.
Executive Outcomes
Sandline
Sandline is a private military company offering legitimate governments military expertise. Sandline was responsible for the shipment of arms to Presidents Kabbahsgovernment when it had been deposed by the AFRC junta. This contravened the United Nations arms embargo against Sierra Leone and severely embarrassed the centre-left British government. Sandline claimed it had been given the tacitgo-ahead and had kept the Foreign Office informed of its actions.
Official web site for Sandline
Kamajoh
The Kamajohs were originally
Mende hunters (largest ethnic group in SL) who believe in
supernatural and ancestralpowers. They mixed Juju
fetishism with modern weaponry, to form civil defence
militias. During the 1997 coup when much of the SLA had
sided with the AFRC the Kamajohs remained loyal to the
Kabbah government.
Web
site with content on the Kamajohs
Rex Diamond
A diamond mining company with ties to both the government
and the RUF although the RUF understandably denied this.
In1998, Sierra Leone had problems with its only combat
helicopter - a serious issue because the Soviet-built
gunship hadbeen the government's most effective weapon
against the guerrillas. The company'sPresident and
Managing Directorpersonally endeavoured to help by making
an arrangement to supply US $3.8 million worth of engines,
parts andammunition in a deal which never came off.
Official web site for
Rex Diamond
AmCan Minerals
Another diamond mining company trading on the Canadian
stock exchange, but so far has done little diamond mining.
It recently acquired a South African-owned firm, ArmSec
International (SL) which is closely tied to both the
minerals andthe security industries.
Official web site for
AmCan Minerals
Diamond Works
The diamond mining company which acquired Branch Energy
Ltd is widely accepted as having arranged the arms
dealfor President Kabbah through Sandline.
Official web site
for Diamond Works
History
Pre 1990 | 1990-1999 | Current
Situation | Influencers | Relevant
Links