Sierra Leone is blessed as a source of diamonds, gold, titanium, and bauxite, yet cursed to the corruption and conflict that surrounds rich natural resources. During the 1990’s, war has claimed over 50,000 lives and forced as many as two million people to flee the conflict zones, creating a long-term refugee crisis within Sierra Leone and in neighboring Guinea and Liberia and creating new rebel recruits.

After banning slavery, England became a haven for runaway slaves. To deal with the influx of freed slaves, England established a colony in Sierra Leone and shipped the Africans there. Having been exposed to European society these “creoles” became a privileged class in Sierra Leone, often acting as proxies for British and Lebanese merchants who controlled the colony and exploiting the native peoples.
In 1961, Britain divested the colony and Sierra Leone became independent. In the ensuing years the government became increasingly corrupt and the country became a base for crime, gambling, and gold and diamond smuggling to the detriment of the citizens. In 1967, Syaka Stevens was elected as a progressive reformer, which threatened foreign interests in Sierra Leone. He was overthrown in a military coup, but returned to power in 1971 after the Sergeant’s Revolt in 1968. Stevens declared Sierra Leone a republic and became its president.

By the early 1980’s, the nation’s economy had deteriorated severely, spawning opposition groups and dissent. Illegal income from smuggling was ten times the income from official exports. In 1987 Joseph Momoh assumed the presidency. With the economy in shambles and corruption rampant, rebel forces became increasingly active, striking from bases in neighboring Liberia and Burkina Faso. In 1991, Momoh allowed deployment of troops from Nigeria and Guinea into Sierra Leone to help stop rebel advances.


The War Years