Sierra Leone Quiz

History: 1971

Sierra Leone becomes republic

Siaka Stevens becomes executive president

History: 1978

Sierra Leone becomes one party state: All People’s Congress

History: 1985

Stevens retires

Major General Joseph Saidu Momoh appointed president

APC rule increases abuse of power

Civil War: March 1991

Revolutionary United Front (RUF) attacks villages in east to rid country of APC government

• Rebel Leader: Foday Sankoh

Revolutionary United Front (RUF)

rebel group to rid the country of the APC government

• led by Foday Sankoh

Civil War: April 1992

National Provision Ruling Council (NPRC) established

• ineffective in stopping RUF

Civil War: 1995

RUF holds much of countryside in their control

The Diamond Trade

People who purchase diamonds in West unknowingly funded Sankoh and RUF

diamonds specifically mined in war zones to fund invading army

Liberia trades weapons/training for diamonds

What were these diamonds called?

Blood Diamonds/Conflict Diamonds

Child Soldiers: “The Perfect Weapon”

adults can resist warlords, children can’t

available in great numbers

easily manipulated

intensely loyal

fearless

expendable

What did child soldiers have to do in Uganda

Uganda: Lord’s Resistance Army teachers child soldiers to burn huts + beat infants to death

What did child soldiers have to do in Iran?

child soldiers used to clear mine fields in 1980s

What did child soldiers have to do in Palestine

child soldiers from West Bank & Gaza used as suicide bombers

Child Soldiers: Intimidation tactics

extreme punishments

death for desertion

rejection upon return

orphaned/homeless

had no where else to go

Child Soldiers: Deprived

separated from families

denied educational opportunities

denied health care

denied a childhood

Child Soldiers: fueled by drug use

amphetamines

marijuana

“brown brown” → cocaine + gunpowder

Amputation

rebels called amputation of four fingers “One Love”

• reference to rastafarian “thumbs up”

Human Rights Groups’ Efforts

restore children to their families when possible

return to former communities

enroll in schools

place in homes

Kimberly Process Certification Scheme

Created in 2002 to control flow of blood diamonds

• must be presented by a gems owner before it can leave the country

• forces government to keep track of the diamonds they are importing/exporting and their value