Sierra Leone: Inside the War: History and Narratives

Newly revised and re-edited
This book provides readers with an overview of Sierra Leonean history and culture and insight into the 1991-2002 civil war. Included are descriptions of Sierra Leone’s culture and pre-war history, a detailed account of the civil war, and narratives from 44 Sierra Leoneans who describe their experiences and opinions of the conflict.
Written after the 2012 conviction of Liberian warlord Charles Taylor for crimes committed during the Sierra Leone war, the book provides details of the complicity of Taylor and Muammar Qaddafi of Libya in the war.
The narrators, who include civilians and members of all fighting factions including child soldiers from all factions, describe fascinating and sometimes brutal aspects of the fighting, the relative success of the reconciliation process that took place at the end of the war and the current state of the country. The narratives also provide interesting cultural details of the fighting, such as the use of witchcraft and the indoctrination of child fighters.
This book is recommended for anyone with an interest in Sierra Leonean history and culture, West African politics, and the anthropology of war. With nine maps and numerous photos.
“An important addition to the written history of Sierra Leone” (comment from reviewer)