Sierra Leone Flashcards
(10 cards)
How did the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) operate during the conflict?
The RUF exploited grievances to gain support but relied heavily on looting, forced recruitment (including child soldiers), and terror tactics like mass amputations (Richards, 1996).
What were the main causes of the Sierra Leone civil war (1991–2002)?
Political instability, corruption, and socioeconomic grievances combined with the illegal diamond trade and warlordism were primary causes (Keen, 2005; Reno, 1998).
What role did external actors play in sustaining the Sierra Leone conflict?
Liberia’s Charles Taylor supported the RUF in exchange for diamond access, showing how regional dynamics and resource greed fueled the conflict (Ellis, 1999; Reno, 1998).
What was the impact of international military intervention in Sierra Leone?
The UK’s decisive intervention in 2000, combined with UNAMSIL peacekeeping reforms, played a key role in defeating the RUF and stabilizing the country (Kaldor, 2007).
How did political objectives interfere with humanitarian aid during the conflict?
During 1997–1998, aid was deliberately blocked by the exiled government, UN leadership, and donors to isolate the AFRC junta, resulting in significant civilian suffering (Porter, 2003; Macrae & Leader, 2000).
What does Toby Porter argue about the relationship between political and humanitarian action in Sierra Leone?
Porter argues that political objectives consistently overrode humanitarian principles, especially when aid was withheld to pursue regime change (Porter, 2003).
What challenges did the World Food Programme face in Sierra Leone and Liberia during the early 1990s?
WFP faced insecurity, poor infrastructure, coordination failures, targeting problems, and corruption—despite these, it largely prevented famine (Apthorpe et al., 1996).
What recommendations did Apthorpe et al. (1996) make to improve humanitarian response?
They advocated for prioritizing life-saving aid, linking relief to recovery (productive relief), improving targeting and logistics, and strengthening inter-agency coordination.
(Apthorpe et al., 1996)
What was the outcome of the 1999 Lomé Peace Accord?
The agreement offered amnesty and power-sharing with the RUF, which was criticized for legitimizing violence; peace soon collapsed when the RUF resumed attacks (Atkinson, 2008).
How did the humanitarian situation improve after 2000?
Following UK intervention and UNAMSIL reform, humanitarian access expanded, displacement reduced, and aid agencies shifted focus to recovery and reintegration (Fleshman, 2006; Porter, 2003).
