Conflict and Collusion in Sierra Leone

This book provides a history of the last ten years of Sierra Leone, including a new and insightful discussion of the Sierra Leonean war which questions the assumption that it is taking place between two parties and suggests instead that there are various armed groups that have little interest in ending the conflict. The war and continuing UN presence in Sierra Leone have made it one of the African countries given a good deal of attention in the international press, and Keen's book is the most up-to-date source of reliable information and insight on the current situation and recent history.

"As a text on modern Sierra Leone, this manuscript [will] take its place ... as a standard work."--Stephen Ellis, Senior Researcher, African Studies Center, Leiden

David Keen is a lecturer at the London School of Economics.

Introduction * Historical Background-Uneven Development * Rebellion: Political or Economic? * Rebellion: Grievances and Shame * The APC and the 'Failure' of Counter-Insurgency * Rebels and Civil Defense: Some Case Studies * Emergency Aid as Welfare Intervention: Some Deficiencies * From Abidjan to the May 1997 Junta: Collaboration Comes to Town * The Rebels Return to Freetown * Peace and Its Discontents * A More Peaceable RUF Highlights Problems Elsewhere