Сьерра-Леонедегі революциялық күрес және саяси партия

Rebel army and political party in Sierra Leone

The Revolutionary United Front (RUF) was a rebel group that fought a failed eleven year war in Sierra Leone, beginning in 1991 and ending in 2002. It later transformed into a political party, which still exists today. The three most senior surviving leaders, Issa Sesay, Morris Kallon and Augustine Gbao, were convicted in February 2009 of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

In response to the immediate execution of rebels by government forces, the RUF instituted a policy of cutting off the hands of captured soldiers with the intent of sending the message: "You don't hold your weapon against your brother." Brandishing machetes, RUF rebels amputated the hands, arms, and legs of tens of thousands of Sierra Leoneans. The election slogan at that time was the people "had power in their hands", so the RUF would hack off hands to prevent people from voting. Refugee camps were set up for amputees, supported by the government and other relief agencies.

In March 1997, Sankoh fled to Nigeria, where he was put under house arrest, and then imprisoned. During Sankoh's incarceration, which ended in 1999, Sam Bockarie filled in as director of RUF military operations. In 1999, after enormous pressure by the United States, the United Kingdom, the UN, and various other countries, Sankoh was forced into signing the Lomé Peace Accord on 7 July 1999. Sankoh was then allowed to return under the conditions of the agreement. However fighting again broke out, and the UN sent peacekeeping troops in hopes of integrating the RUF into a new national army. This intervention failed as well, and by 2000 they held 500 UN peacekeepers hostage until their release was negotiated by Taylor. The UK, Guinea, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and various other nations, sent in professional forces in 2001. The RUF was noted to be weakened, especially decreasing resources, and hence had to suffer several crushing defeats at the hands of the British special forces; which eventually led to the end of the revolution, hence the end of the civil war in Sierra Leone. Sankoh was later captured by a mob and handed to the British Army in Sierra Leone. He was indicted for multiple war crimes by a UN backed special court. In 2003 Sankoh died in prison before the trial took place.

After peace was established, RUF was transformed into a political party: the Revolutionary United Front Party. In the May 10, 2002 general election the party won 2.2% of popular votes and no seats. Its candidate at the presidential elections, Alimamy Pallo Bangura, received 1.7% of the vote. The party received its highest voting in Kailahun, 7.8% in the parliamentary election. It has since drifted into near irrelevance, only maintaining a small voter base of former rebel fighters.

ElectionParty candidateVotes%Votes%ResultFirst roundSecond round2002Alimamy Pallo Bangura33,0741.73%colspan=2 Lost 2007Did not contest2012Eldred Collins12,9930.58%colspan=2 Lost 2018Gbandi Jemba Ngobeh12,8270.51%colspan=2 Lost 2023Abdulahi Saccoh6,7960.24%colspan=2 Lost

ElectionLeaderVotes%Seats+/–PositionGovernment2002Alimamy Pallo Bangura41,9972.20%New4th2007Did not contest2012Jonathan Kposowa12,5730.59% 0 5th2018Raymond Kartewu4380.02% 0 16th2023Foday Massaquoi1,5020.05% 0 6th

Cry Freetown is a 2000 documentary film directed by Sorious Samura. It is an account of the victims of the Sierra Leone Civil War and depicts the most brutal period with the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels capturing the capital city (January 1999). In the 2005 movie Lord of War, the protagonist played by Nicolas Cage sells weapons to the RUF. RUF was featured significantly in the 2006 movie Blood Diamond starring Leonardo DiCaprio. In this film, RUF is used largely to create the social climate in which the film is set, and the (fictional) depicted commanders of the group are the main antagonists and villains of the story. The 2010 film Predators is about a group of the most dangerous people on Earth who are taken to an alien planet to be hunted; one of them is a member of RUF named Mombasa, portrayed by Mahershala Ali. The 2012 documentary Life does not lose its value focuses on the reintegration of former child soldiers, after they have lived years in the forest with the RUF rebels.

Kanye West released a song called Diamonds from Sierra Leone in his album Late Registration, West later remixed the song alongside Jay Z.