|
|
Article: Back in business: Sierra Leone's President and CEO.(AFRICA)(Ernest Bai Koroma )
- Article from:
- Harvard International Review
- Article date:
- June 22, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 Harvard International Relations Council, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
From 1991 to 2002, civil war devastated the Western African nation of Sierra Leone. The conflict pitted the government against the Liberian-aided Revolutionary United Front (RUF). The RUF established a base of economic power through control of the country's vast diamond mines and reached its zenith with a successful coup in 1997. After significant British military involvement on the side of the civilian government, the RUF finally admitted defeat on January 18,2002. Western politicians and journalists often characterize the resolution of the civil war as a successful example of Western liberal interventionism to safeguard lives and support democracy. However, Sierra Leone ...