Sierra Leone Civil War
Overview
The Sierra Leone Civil War (1991-2002) began on 23 March 1991 when the Revolutionary United Front
(RUF), with support from the special forces of Charles Taylor’s National Patriotic Front of Liberia
(NPFL), intervened in Sierra Leone in an attempt to overthrow the Joseph Momoh government. The resulting civil war
lasted 11 years, enveloped the country, and left over 50,000 dead.
During the first year of the war, the RUF took control of large swathes of territory in eastern and southern Sierra Leone, which were rich in alluvial diamonds.
Revolutionary United Front
The Revolutionary United Front was a rebel army that fought a failed eleven-year war in Sierra Leone, starting in 1991 and ending in 2002. It later developed into a political party, which existed until 2007...
(RUF), with support from the special forces of Charles Taylor’s National Patriotic Front of Liberia
National Patriotic Front of Liberia
The National Patriotic Front of Liberia was a rebel group that initiated and participated in the First Liberian Civil War from 1989 to 1996.-Leadership:...
(NPFL), intervened in Sierra Leone in an attempt to overthrow the Joseph Momoh government. The resulting civil war
Civil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
lasted 11 years, enveloped the country, and left over 50,000 dead.
During the first year of the war, the RUF took control of large swathes of territory in eastern and southern Sierra Leone, which were rich in alluvial diamonds.
