Ishmael Beah’s Story

Memoir Memoir = a historical account or biography written from personal knowledge or special sources.

Sierra Leone in West Africa size: 27,699 sq miles languages: English, Krio (Creole language), and a range of African languages religions: Islam, indigenous beliefs, Christianity life expectancy: 39 yrs (M), 42 yrs (F) exports: diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish

Civil War in Sierra Leone March 1991: The Revolutionary United Front (RUF) began attacking villages in eastern Sierra Leone. *Goal: To rid the country of the APC government * Rebel leader: Foday Sankoh April 1992: The National Provisional Ruling Council (NPRC) was established, but it proved to be as ineffective as the APC at repelling the RUF. 1995: The RUF held much of the countryside in their control.

Factors Leading to Civil War in Sierra Leone Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) civil war to oust dictator bloodbath over resources timber copper gold diamonds RUF (Revolutionary United Front) liberation army former corporal, Foday Sankoh Sierra Leone diamond mines to capital, Freetown

The Diamond Trade in Sierra Leone During the civil war in Sierra Leone, people who purchased diamonds in the West unknowingly funded the mission of Foday Sankoh and the RUF These diamonds came to be known as “blood diamonds” or “conflict diamonds” Specifically mined in war zones of Africa to fund the invading army’s efforts. Liberia would trade weapons and training to Sierra Leone in exchange of their diamonds.

Kimberley Process Certification Scheme Created in 2002 to control the flow blood diamonds. A Kimberley Certification must be presented by a gems owner before it can leave the country. This forces the government to keep track of the diamonds they are importing and exporting and their value.

Blood Diamonds in the U.S. Executive Order 13194 ( Jan 2001) and 13213 (May 2001) specifically ban the importation of rough diamonds from Sierra Leone and Liberia. Clean Diamond Trade Act (2003): U.S. recognizes that as a major consumer of diamonds, it has a responsibility to severe its ties to any diamond trade that funds war and conflict. This was crucial to the success of the KPCS.

Child Soldier at War Age 12 Age 13 rebels to Beah’s small town separated from parents fled with a group of boys wandered village to village barely surviving reached Atlantic Ocean recruited into Sierra Leone Army Age 13 received his first AK-47 trained to kill “We walked around the village and killed everyone who came out of the houses and huts.” — Beah

Historical Tradition 1861 US Civil War 1914 WWI 1964 Vietnam War 1846 Mexican American War 1967 Cambodia 1918 Russian Civil War 1943 Hitler Youth in Nuremburg

Contemporary Crisis 250,000 child soldiers worldwide recent United Nations estimation: 250,000 child soldiers worldwide current Amnesty International count: over 300,000 child soldiers in more than 85 countries both boys & girls ages 8 to 18

A Global Issue Afghanistan Sri Lanka Congo Chechnya Thailand Nepal Sudan Iraq Columbia Somalia Palestine

Trained to Kill Thailand Liberia Uganda Iraq Palestine

Intimidated by Fear extreme punishments death for desertion rejection upon return orphaned, homeless no where else to go "These are brutally thuggy people who don't want to rule politically and have no strategy for winning a war.'' — Professor Neil Boothby Columbia University

Weakened by Deprivation separated from families denied educational opportunities denied health care denied a childhood

Trapped in Abuse mental & emotional physical sexual chemical 15-year-old soldier with her infant in Liberia

Amputation Rebels called the amputation of just four fingers “one love” after the rastafarian phrase “thumbs up.” There are more than 6,000 amputees in Sierra Leone as a result of civil war. Former Liberian leader, Charles Taylor, is accused of backing a rebel group that cut off limbs, mutilated and raped thousands of civilians in Sierra Leone.

Rescue, Rehabilitation & Hope Above: Maxwell Fornah and Victor Musa, members of the Single Leg Amputee Sports Club of Sierra Leone, Freetown April 2006.