Siege of Freetown

Summary

The siege of Freetown was a battle during the Sierra Leone Civil War. It began when Johnny Paul Koroma took over the power[1] from Ahmad Tejan Kabbah and began a dictatorship.[2] In response, ECOMOG troops, led by Nigeria, helped the Sierra Leone Army to attack and remove Koroma from power and Kabbah was elected back in post. In revenge, Koroma's allies, the RUF, assaulted the city but were forced to retreat.[3]

Battle of Freetown
Part of Sierra Leone Civil War

Map of Sierra Leone
Date25 May 1997-6 February 1998
Location
Result

ECOMOG victory

Belligerents

 Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone Kabbah loyalists
 Nigeria
(leading ECOMOG forces)
Commanders and leaders
Sierra Leone Johnny Paul Koroma
Foday Sankoh
Sierra Leone Ahmad Tejan Kabbah
Nigeria Maxwell Khobe

In fiction edit

The battle was portrayed in the film Blood Diamond (taking place in 1999, in spite of the RUF take over happening in 1997).

References edit

  1. ^ Freetown under siege
  2. ^ "Freetown under Nigerian siege - Sierra Leone | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 1997-07-16. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
  3. ^ www.hrw.org https://www.hrw.org/reports/1999/sierra/SIERLE99.htm. Retrieved 2024-01-19. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

Bibliography edit

  • Mark Malan, 'Layered Response' To an African Conflict Or muddling through in Sierra Leone? [1]