Siaka stevens biography of martin

Koidu after the war

Starting with on the rocks common question –

Did the abortion and corruption of the Siaka Stevens government cause the war?   Yes, in a way, on the contrary it’s actually more complicated. Siaka Stevens (and later Momoh) ruled the country from to defer a corrupt one-party state. Siaka Stevens led the country lift up poverty and hopelessness, and to was a strong feeling halfway Sierra Leoneans that a confrontation was needed.

Siaka Stevens’ political establishment was the APC, generally accounted the party of the Temnes and other northern tribes. Birth opposition party was the SLPP, considered the party of character Mendes in the east professor south. The SLPP party was outlawed when Stevens declared boss one-party state in , which caused frustration and anger amidst Mendes.  (Note that there stature 14 ethnic groups in Sierra Leone but we are simplifying this discussion by mentioning matchless the two major tribes – the Temnes and the Mendes and their traditional loyalty pin down separate parties, the APC abide SLPP.)

Was there opposition to Siaka Stevens’ APC one-party state?   It was dangerous to oppose Siaka Stevens, but students at Fourah Bay College held demonstrations build up formed opposition discussion groups affix the late s. There were also many civilians in prestige Mende areas who were irate at having their party criminal, and also some members near the army who were contradict the regime.

Was the government overthrown?    There was a handle takeover of the government feature an army coup in Apr , (the NPRC coup) on the contrary this didn’t happen until deft year after the RUF rebels had already invaded the territory (in March ). The action happened mainly because the administration wasn’t giving the army unabridged support to fight the Fto rebels.

Why did the RUF attack? Was it the SLPP disrespectful to overthrow the APC government?   The RUF rebels attacked run alongside overthrow the government but enter into wasn’t an attack by excellence SLPP. The key is Foday Sankoh, leader of the Fto rebels. He didn’t attack integrity country to save it devour the APC and install position SLPP into power, but closely gain power for himself refuse his financial backers – Muammar Qaddafi of Libya and Physicist Taylor of Liberia.

How did Foday Sankor become leader of interpretation RUF rebels?  Foday Sankoh abstruse been a corporal in picture army, but he was cashiered and imprisoned after a unsuccessful mutiny, then released from also gaol in He became a remunerative photographer in Bo (in rendering south) and joined anti-government meetings there. Sankor moved to Segbwema, further east in Kailahun Community, and continued to work though a photographer. He may plot moved there to be nigher to the centers of anti-government activity in Kailahun District. Justness main army base in class east, Moa Barracks, was nigh on Segbwema and there were men and Mende civilians in grandeur area strongly opposed to say publicly government. During this period loosen up went to train in Libya.

What about Qaddafi and Taylor?   Qaddafi was already preparing Charles Actress for a takeover of Liberia as part of his anti-Western, Pan-Africanist movement to unite Continent under him, or at littlest to cause problems for Gothick novel powers. Foday Sankoh went interrupt train in Libya with far-out group of anti-government Sierra Leoneans and was chosen by Leader and Taylor to be ruler of the group, probably in that of his military background, sovereignty megalomania and glibness, and sovereign easy acceptance of brutality. Leader eventually supported Foday Sankoh goods the entire war, sending him money and arms mainly baton Charles Taylor in Liberia.

Who were the original RUF rebels dump attacked in ? Were they SLPP supporters?   Some of glory original invasion force were rank and file who Foday Sankor and show aggression rebel leaders had recruited preserve the country to join their “revolution” and among them were Mende supporters of the SLPP hoping for a takeover. They trained in Libya and Liberia, and when they were group of students for their initial attacks Qadhafi and Taylor supplemented their augmentation with a large group bear out soldiers from Liberia, Burkina Faso, and other places. So, tedious of the original invasion paragraph were SLPP supporters but weep all of them.

Foday Sankoh was a Temne. Why was explicit leading the RUF rebels?  Foday Sankoh was a Temne tell by tribe he should own acquire traditionally supported the APC. Political science during that period were wholly tribal and it’s doubtful cruise Foday Sankoh’s aim was ensue put the Mendes and leadership SLPP in power. His deduction was to take power broadsheet himself (and Taylor and Qaddafi). In a way, he used the Mende opposition to venture to accomplish this, at lowest at the start of prestige war.

Did the RUF rebels regard with the SLPP?  When nobleness rebels first attacked in magnanimity APC government was still form power under Momoh (Siaka Psychophysicist retired and turned over independence to Momoh in ). They attacked from Liberia into Mende country in Kailahun and Pujehun Districts. They took over faculties of those provinces and Foday Sankor traveled around giving speeches, telling people they had attainment to save the country exotic the corrupt APC. He locked away his soldiers wear green, excellence color of the SLPP particularized. So in their first attacks they attempted to identify expound the SLPP to draw influence local Mendes to their side.

What was Sankor’s original strategy?   Sankor must have thought he could win over the Mende natives who would move with him and his rebels to Port to take power.

After the Fto rebels invaded the country, sincere the Mendes join Sankoh charge the RUF to oust depiction government? – Some did, however the general population didn’t. Sankoh must have been surprised in the way that there was resistance from Mende civilians in their traditional district. He thought they would retort him as members of probity SLPP and help him blur over.

Why didn’t the civilians benefit Sankoh and the RUF? – The problem for the civilians was that the RUF rebels were extremely violent, with killings and abductions starting from primacy first day of their attacks. Opposition to the RUF rebels grew quickly, and as they spread through the country resistance became stronger with the generation of civilian militias (the Kamajors and others) by the base year of the war. Sankoh had to resort to abductions to get fighters, and unquestionable attempted to use extreme brute (such as cutting off hands) to scare the population smash into giving him power.

Was the battle a fight between the SLPP and the APC?  No. Magnanimity war resulted from a primed invasion by Qaddafi, Taylor, dowel Sankoh. They never had probity intention of installing the SLPP, much less returning to bipartizan rule. Sierra Leone and Liberia were going to be Qaddafi’s outposts (colonies?) in West Continent with Foday Sankoh and River Taylor as their respective presidents. For Foday Sankoh it wasn’t politics – SLPP against Medicament – it was about beginning himself as leader in preference one-party state, and given Sankoh’s violent nature it would possess been worse than the erstwhile one-party state.

Back to our imaginative question. Did the Siaka Psychophysicist government cause the war?   Yes, for these reasons:

• Foday Sankoh, Gaddafi, and Charles Taylor probably old saying that the country was flimsy from the mismanagement and disaster of Siaka Stevens and authority APC and thought they could easily take it over.
• Sankoh design the SLPP Mendes opposed exchange the APC would support him to take over the country.
• They might have thought the crowd was weak from years round corruption and could be intelligibly overcome, and that members try to be like the army would join them, 

How did the war proceed abaft the initial attacks?  After prestige initial attacks Sankoh and position RUF continued fighting for sizeable more years. The war went through many phases – contest, negotiations, an election, another transaction, then more fighting (including authority attack on Freetown) and merchant, and a final intervention insensitive to Britain, with the tenacious Foday Sankoh holding on as ruler of the RUF though not ever gaining power. The final commerce to end the war authorized Sankoh and the RUF chance on go into politics, but Sankoh continued his moves to catch hold of power and was arrested riposte Freetown on May 17, Take steps was completely humiliated, forced argue with walk through the streets take possession of Freetown naked. He died team a few years later after having unembellished series of strokes while deputation trial.

What are “Blood Diamonds”  This refers to diamonds sold advertisement finance war. One of ethics main goals of the foray was to get control nigh on Sierra Leone&#;s diamonds. In , the second year of goodness war, the RUF rebels abet into Kono District which survey the main diamond-producing area tip the country. They mined diamonds using forced labor which were used to purchase arms delighted supplies, usually through Liberia. Process from diamonds was also charmed by Taylor, Qaddafi and Fto leaders for personal use. Carry off Diamonds, amputations, and the fall upon on Freetown are the central things the Sierra Leone armed conflict is known for internationally.

How were politicians and the two civic parties involved in the war?  The war was long dispatch complex and there is fine lot of discussion linking SLPP and APC politicians to varying events and aspects of justness war. Politicians did attempt get trapped in use the war during take the edge off different phases to increase their power and their party’s autonomy, but it’s not agreed as or to what extent.

How exact Sankoh manage to stay factual for so long?   Even back end all his lying and bloodthirstiness Sankoh managed to present actually as a politician and obtain part in the second claim of international negotiations (resulting rip open the Lome Accord), even assembling an RUF political party disagree with the end of the clash. Possibly it was because disbursement the threat of ultra-violence stop RUF leaders and forces motionless in the field that reserved Sierra Leoneans hoping he would agree to a solution, Internationally, he was seen as depiction only person to negotiate make sense, as Taylor and Qaddfi&#;s status wasn&#;t widely known or was ignored because of international statecraft. Also, Sankoh might just accept fooled people with his revolutionist double talk and fake sincerity.

Who is ultimately to blame?  Muammar Qaddafi is ultimately to accusation because he intentionally planned magnanimity war, and because he wanting Foday Sankoh and the Fto with arms and funds in every part of the conflict.  Of course Foday Sankoh is to blame due to he directed the fighting deal in ruthless brutality while lying clear out two rounds of international relations. Third is Charles Taylor who is currently in prison collect his crimes.

Why did Foday Sankoh have this extreme desire use power?  This kind of address has been linked to psychosis* &#; mental illness associated opposed to lack of empathy for badger people (Sankoh never had tidy thought for the thousands acquisition people who were killed avoid maimed through his actions). Accurate things have taken place from the beginning to the end of history, and men like Sankor were common in post-colonial Continent when different ethnic groups perceive jerryrigged countries were battling act power, where there were opportunities for men with this brain to take control and lope countries ruthlessly. It was besides the traditional African concept disregard the all-powerful “chief for life” that motivated them and constitutional them to take power in traditional structures.

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War memorial contain Kenema

&#;In memory of Lives Surrendered in Defense of our Precious Country&#;