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Sierra Leone

Page history last edited by PBworks 17 years, 3 months ago
Blood Diamonds and Child Soldiers in Sierra Leone

 

From 1991 until 2002 Sierra Leone experienced mass killings, sex crimes, mutilations and other human rights violations. Much of violence was a result of the struggle for power over the diamond fields. The rich diamond deposits were used to fuel the fighting between the rebel factions.

 

 

 

Throughout the 1990s there was conflict between the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) lead by warlord Foday Sankoh who was Liberian sponsored, and the government militias. Neighboring Liberia’s President, Charles Taylor, supported the RUF. Several military coups occurred within the country. Although there were efforts for ceasefire, peace and disarmament did not occur until 2002, eleven years later. The war claimed 75,000 lives.

 

 

 

Conflict in Sierra Leone became notorious for their gross abuses of human rights. There are numerous reports of abduction, rape and exploitation of women and children. It is estimated that 10,000 of the soldiers involved in the conflict were children. Charles Taylor is now on trial in international courts for crimes against war crimes.

 

 

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