Reconstructing Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone's ten-year civil conflict ended in 2001 and was followed by a substantial reconstruction project. This article considers how far that programme addresses the underlying factors predisposing Sierra Leone to internal conflict and to what degree signs of genuine reconciliation are emerging. To do so, three indicators of reconstruction are examined, namely youth alienation, state corruption and national reconciliation. The article concludes that although there has been successful demobilisation, disarmament and infrastructure building, factors that contributed to the conflict have not been tackled and the signs of reconciliation are still slight. Such a foundation is not sufficient to rebuild the nation or to guarantee its future security.