The Sierra Leone Rebel Leader Who Refused to Disarm (2000)

Summary by Krater

This video from May 2000 profiles Foday Sankoh, leader of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in Sierra Leone, exploring his transition from rebel leader to politician following the Lomé Peace Accord and the challenges of the peace process.

From the video

Answers: Who is Foday Sankoh and what role does he play in Sierra Leone?

• Foday Sankoh
• Sierra Leone Civil War
• Revolutionary United Front (RUF)
• Lomé Peace Accord
• United Nations mission in Sierra Leone
• Disarmament and demobilization

What it concludes

• Foday Sankoh maintains that his political rhetoric aims to bring change and end corruption in Sierra Leone.
• Despite the Lomé Peace Accord, two-thirds of the Sierra Leone countryside remained under RUF control eight months after its signing.
• The United Nations mission in Sierra Leone faced significant setbacks, including the kidnapping of personnel and blocking of patrols by RUF forces.
• Sankoh's followers and the RUF continue to resist disarmament while maintaining control over vast diamond reserves.