1. Sierra Leone History
The Parties

3. Background Colonialism ends 1950s 2-party system established
Power struggles

4. Party A = SLPP “Sierra Leone People’s Party” Leader = Milton Margai
1st party to win after colonialism (1962)
Holds power for 5 years

5. SLPP Problems Favors own ethnicity (Mende)
Tries to institute 1-party state

6. Party B = APC “All People’s Congress” Leader = Siaka Stevens
Wins next election (1967)
Holds power for 14 years

7. APC Problems Favors own ethnicity (Limba) Coups start within hours
SLPP boycott elections

8. Civil War Begins in 1990 Causes: RUF forms
Government corruption by APC
Blood diamonds
RUF forms

9. Blood Diamonds Diamonds mined in war zone Fund insurgency conflicts
Sold in black markets
In Sierra Leone, located in East

10. Party C = RUF “Revolutionary United Front” Leader = Foday Sankoh
Rebels against APC in South and East
Uses child soldiers

11. Party D = AFRC “Armed Forces Revolutionary Council”
Leader = Johnny Paul Koroma
Were part of APC, but couped against own party
Holds power for 1 year

12. During the Civil War Power struggles continue
Gov’t changes hands several times
Corruption and blood diamonds continue to be a problem for all parties
Sierra Leone famous for use of child soldiers

13. Finally… UN arrives 2002 and violence slows
50,000 estimated casualties overall
SLPP wins election in 2002
Leader = Tejan Kabbah
Peace accord signed with RUF