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Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone on Brink of Civil War as Peacekeepers Fail to Quell Violence

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Fighting between Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels and Nigerian peacekeepers in Freetown, Sierra Leone has escalated, with a 5,000-strong crowd demanding that RUF leader Foday Sankoh respect a crumbling peace agreement. The situation has led to concerns that the country may return to all-out civil war. Armed members of several factions have been patrolling the streets of Freetown, and the UN has announced that it will withdraw its non-essential staff from the country.

Key Takeaways:

  • The RUF has fired on a crowd of 5,000 protesters outside Foday Sankoh's home, killing dozens and injuring many more.
  • UN peacekeepers were outnumbered and outgunned, with RUF troops using automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades to attack the crowd.
  • Corinna Schuler, a journalist for The Christian Science Monitor and the National Post, was shot dead by RUF rebels, who also killed two Sierra Leoneans who were hiding with her.
  • The RUF has been rearming since the peace pact was signed in July, and is now trying to shame the UN into leaving Sierra Leone.
  • The UN force currently has a strength of 8,700, but has been weakened by the rebels' seizure of 500 peacekeepers and equipment.
  • The RUF has been accused of dressing in UN gear and using this tactic to gain advantage over the peacekeepers.
  • The UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has warned key UN members that the peace contingent needs more muscle, and a rapid-reaction force may be needed to restore the peace process.
  • The British government has refused to say whether the British force will undertake missions other than evacuation, but has agreed to provide transport aircraft to ferry troops from Bangladesh.
  • The US government has promised to aid the UN force, while Canada has expressed caution about beefing up the peace force.

Statistics:

  • 5,000: the number of protesters who were fired on by RUF rebels.
  • 4: the number of bodies seen at a hospital in Freetown.
  • 266: the number of non-essential civilian workers who will be pulled from Freetown.
  • 500: the number of peacekeepers who were seized by the RUF.
  • 8,700: the projected strength of the UN peace force.
  • 6,000: the estimated number of rebels who profess allegiance to Mr. Sankoh.
  • 11,000: the projected strength of the UN peace force by the end of June.

Sources:

  • Reuters, "Sierra Leone Violence Spills Over; Rebels Slaughter Peacekeepers"
  • The Associated Press, "Sierra Leone Rebels Kill Dozens, Wound Many"
  • The Christian Science Monitor, "Sierra Leone's Rebel Leader Foday Sankoh's grip on power tightens"
  • The National Post, "Sierra Leone on brink of all-out civil war as rebels turn on peacekeepers"

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