SIERRA LEONE

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Context

• Following a failed coup attempt, Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa, is caught between an economic downturn and political unrest.

About Sierra Leone

• Sierra Leone is located between Liberia and Guinea, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean.
• The country is situated on the southwest coast of West Africa.
• Capital:
• Languages: English, Krio.
• Mount Bintumani (also known as Loma Mansa) is the highest peak in Sierra Leone.
• A tropical climate is found in Sierra Leone.
• Sierra Leone’s terrain is characterized by mountains in the eastern region, an upland plateau, a wooded hill country, and a coastal belt of mangrove swamps.
• Sierra Leone is one of the members of the International Solar Alliance.
• India was among the first countries to contribute to the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) with the deployment of 4000 strong Indian Military contingent.

More about the News

• Since Sierra Leone is a part of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the organisation and its member nations will intervene to uphold constitutional order in the event that a security issue should occur in the future.

What Are the Elements Affecting Sierra Leone's Unrest?

• Political instability: Political turmoil was brought on by the President's re-election in June 2023. The other side disputed the outcome, claiming that it was manipulated.
• There was a legislative boycott until October 2023 as a result of opposition contestation.
• Economic instability: The issue is exacerbated by a high cost of living and extreme poverty.
• As a result of the President's worsening economic policies, there were protests and calls for his resignation.
• Police Aggression: Resentment has been stoked by the government's use of force, including live gunfire, to quell protests and jail riots.

Other Recent Upheavals in Africa

• Coup in Niger (2023).
• Crisis in Sudan (2023 and 2021).
• Burkina Faso Coup (2022).
• Military Coup in Mali (2021, 2020).

About Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

• The ECOWAS, also known as CEDEAO in French, is a regional intergovernmental organisation that was founded in 1975 by the Lagos Treaty with the goal of fostering economic integration and collaboration among West African countries.
• Headquarter: Nigeria's Abuja.
• Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal, and Togo are the 15 member states that make up ECOWAS.
• It seeks to accomplish regional collaboration across sectors, free movement of people and products, and economic integration.
• It also aims to create a region without borders run on democratic principles and tackle security issues by working together to resolve conflicts.