The civil war in Sierra Leone is one of the most violent wars in post-independence Africa, leaving a permanent scar to the people living in the country.
Sierra Leone was meant to be the shining light of Africa; it had all that was needed to engineer economic and political prosperity. It was also the first country to have the first University in West Africa: the Fourah bay college. These Factors ought to have made Sierra Leone a living paradise; instead, it became a living hell. As history as shown before, war can diminish even the most mighty to nothing."
-Sierra Leone Civil War Website
Political history, such as corruption, assassinations, mismanagement and malpractices have been huge contributing factors to the war. Sierra Leone is full of rich resources, but the broken government took them for their own personal benefits. The RUF (Revolutionary United Front) promised men money and shelter to join them in the war. They later became the "rebel" group. Money and power was the primary focus in this war.