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55-560: The RUF initially coalesced as a group of Sierra Leoneans who led elements of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia across the Liberian border. Their goal was to replicate Charles Taylor's earlier success in toppling the Liberian government. The RUF was created by Foday Sankoh , of Temne background, and some allies, Abu Kanu, Rashid Mansaray, with substantial assistance from Charles Taylor of Liberia . Initially,

110-601: A breakaway faction of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia. Prince Y. Johnson took President Doe to his military base where he brutally tortured him until death. Following Doe's execution, Taylor gained control of a large portion of the country and became one of the most prominent warlords in Africa. According to estimates, the National Patriotic Front of Liberia boasted a membership of approximately 25,000 combatants, and its actions were associated with

165-423: A force fighting for a certain ethnic group or region. At one point, during ongoing peace negotiations in 1995, RUF published a pamphlet entitled "Footpaths to Democracy: Toward a New Sierra Leone", which contained some rhetorical references to social justice and pan-Africanism . Foday Sankoh did not stand by his earlier promises of equitably sharing diamond revenues and used these funds to buy arms for himself. With

220-634: A group of Libyan-backed rebels, the NPFL, initiating the First Liberian Civil War (1989–1996). Most NPFL fighters were originally drawn from the Dan and Mano ethnic groups of northern Liberia who were persecuted under Doe's Krahn regime. President Doe was captured in Monrovia on 9 September 1990, by Prince Y. Johnson , one of Liberia's most infamous warlords and former leader of INPFL ,

275-609: A range of human rights violations, including but not limited to massacres, sexual violence, forced recruitment of child soldiers, mutilation , torture , kidnapping , and political assassinations. In addition to the ongoing civil war in Liberia, the rebel group supported the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in Sierra Leone , fomenting unrest against the military government in order to secure control over

330-563: A significant area of the diamond mines under the control of the rebel party, the RUF became singularly focused on protecting its resource base. Sierra Leone's economy collapsed. Ordinary citizens became trapped between the cruelty of RUF troops and starvation. After a coup by the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) in 1997, the RUF and AFRC created a joint junta to control the country before being evicted from

385-697: A state sponsor of terrorism. Liberia served as a staging ground for a CIA task force against Gaddafi's socialist regime. To facilitate covert aid to the Angolan rebel movement UNITA , the United States upgraded Roberts Field airport and utilized the Kamina and Kinshasa air bases in Zaire as key transit points. In exchange for its cooperation, the Doe regime in Liberia received substantial financial assistance from

440-771: The Cotonou Accord on 25 July 1993, the Akosombo Agreement on 12 August 1994, and its Accra Clarification. One of the final thirteen peace agreements, the Abuja Agreement , was signed on 19 August 1995 in Nigeria. As part of this agreement, Taylor consented to the dissolution of the NPFL and its subsequent transformation into a civilian political party, which ultimately became the National Patriotic Party (NPP). Charles Taylor and

495-441: The Dan , Mano , and Krahn ethnic groups increased. Quiwonkpa was of Dan origin, whereas Doe was a member of the indigenous Krahn ethnic group. While Quiwonkpa and Doe initially joined together to overthrow Liberian President William Tolbert in a military coup on 12 April 1980, it was not long before these two fell out of step. Following the assassination of President William Tolbert , Doe rose to power and assumed office as

550-557: The Ivorian Civil War , and increase trade with president Laurent Gbagbo , Taylor was said to have asked Bockarie to assassinate Ivorian rebel leader Félix Doh , who was killed in April 2003. As early as 27 April 2003, Bockarie's actions had brought him back into Liberian territory, where Charles Taylor was now President. The UN received news of Bockarie's presence, and put pressure on Taylor to apprehend him and turn him over to

605-563: The NPP won the 19 July 1997 election with a substantial majority, winning 49 of 64 seats in the House of Representatives and 21 of 26 in the Senate. While international observers deemed the polls administratively free and transparent, they noted that it had taken place in an atmosphere of intimidation because most voters believed that Taylor would resume the war if defeated. Taylor's electoral victory

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660-700: 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

715-717: The 1980s and especially during the First Liberian Civil War , where it massacred civilians and wreaked havoc in Monrovia. Similarly, ULIMO, which was an offshoot of the AFL, reportedly conducted attacks on civilians, looting, and executions of suspected NPFL sympathizers in the areas it captured in 1992. Although the formal connections between the AFL and ULIMO remain unclear, it is worth noting that most of ULIMO's key commanders were former AFL leaders, and many AFL soldiers apparently left their barracks to join ULIMO. Initially, ECOMOG supported

770-585: The 21st president of Liberia from 1980 until his murder in 1990. In 1983, Doe demoted Quiwonkpa from his position as the commanding general of the Liberian armed forces and subsequently charged him with an attempt to overthrow his presidency, forcing him out of the country. Two years later, Quiwonkpa returned, set on launching a retaliatory coup d'état against Doe. With the support of two dozen heavily armed soldiers, Quiwonkpa covertly entered Liberia through Sierra Leone in an attempt to remove Doe from power. However, Quiwonkpa's coup d'état resulted in failure. Quiwonkpa

825-439: The AFL's right to defend itself from NPFL attack and subsequently allowed the AFL to operate alongside multinational troops, although it retained a separate command structure and controlled certain areas independently. While ECOMOG claimed that ULIMO operated autonomously, it was evident that there was some coordination between the groups. Operation Octopus and the greater armed conflict in Liberia had ramifications that extended into

880-686: The NPFL and the Small Boys Unit (SBU), composed of child soldiers, to attack opponents Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group ( ECOMOG ), the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), and the United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO) forces. Although the NPFL never maintained long-term control of the capital, the group controlled the neighboring cities and countryside in addition to Liberia's rich natural resource deposits. Only one month after

935-597: The NPFL created an alternative national administration in 1991 called the National Patriotic Reconstruction Assembly Government (NPRAG), based in the Bong County town of Gbarnga . The formation of NPRAG was an opposition response to the leadership of the internationally recognized Interim Government of National Unity (IGNU), headed by interim president Amos Sawyer . Taylor's authority as self-proclaimed head of

990-569: The NPFL were formally recorded by the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The military aspects of NPFL were led by Charles Taylor , who instructed the NPFL to take up arms against the regime of Samuel Doe on 24 December 1989. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf , who served as the 24th president of Liberia from 16 January 2006 – 22 January 2018, was the International Coordinator of the NPFL and helped raise money for

1045-549: The NPRAG was, however, challenged by a breakaway faction, known as the Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL), led by Prince Yormie Johnson . The INPFL troops were estimated to number less than 500, yet rapidly gained control of parts of central Monrovia. On 15 October 1992, the NPFL launched "Operation Octopus" in a bid to overrun the capital Monrovia , Charles Taylor ordered

1100-547: The RUF in his place. Sam Bockarie was born on 2 October 1964 in Koidu Town , Kono District in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone . Bockarie was the son of a diamond miner and he was raised in his hometown of Koidu Town. Following in his father's footsteps, Bockarie dropped out of secondary school to become a diamond miner. In 1985, he left the mines and started a career as a professional disco dancer, touring

1155-432: The RUF was popular with Sierra Leoneans, many of whom resented a Freetown elite seen as corrupt and looked forward to promised free education and health care and equitable sharing of diamond revenues. However, the RUF developed a reputation internationally for its terrible cruelty towards the civilian population during its decade-long struggle, especially its practice of hacking off limbs to intimidate and spread terror among

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1210-481: The RUF. In March 1997, Sankoh fled to Nigeria , where he was put under house arrest, and then imprisoned. From this time until Sankoh's release in 1999, Bockarie performed the task of director of military operations of the RUF, with alleged advice from Charles Taylor. During this time, Sankoh worked with the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), the group of Sierra Leone Army (SLA) officers which had overthrown President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah on 25 May 1997, and held

1265-519: The SCSL. Late in the day on Monday, 5 May 2003, Bockarie was killed in what was officially reported to be a shootout with Liberian forces. There is some controversy that, since Bockarie's testimony at the SCSL could have implicated Taylor, Taylor sent the troops to find and kill Bockarie, rather than to arrest the man (Perspective, 2003). In any case, after a short time of confusion over the veracity of reports on Bockarie's death, proceedings against Bockarie by

1320-479: The United States. From 1980 to 1985, Liberia received nearly $ 500 million in military and economic aid, which amounted to one-third of its operating budget. At the time, this rendered Liberia the largest recipient of U.S. aid in sub-Saharan Africa on a per capita basis. Following a series of coups d'états attempted by Commanding General Thomas Quiwonkpa of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) and his ally later turned enemy Master Sergeant Samuel Doe , tensions between

1375-541: The allegations was that he had arranged to transport RUF commanders to Monrovia to meet with them personally. 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

1430-757: The capital by the intervention of a Nigerian -led West African force that reinstated President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah . The war is estimated to have cost the lives of about 200,000 people. Child soldiers were heavily recruited in the Sierra Leone Civil War ; a total of 11,000 are thought to have participated in the conflict. Most were used for attacks on villages as well as guard duty for diamond fields and weapons stockpiles. The RUF made extensive use of child soldiers . Thousands of abducted boys and girls were forced to serve as soldiers or as prostitutes, and those chosen to be fighters were sometimes forced to murder their parents. Guerrillas frequently carved

1485-678: The consent of his field commanders, including Bockarie. However, tension continued in Sierra Leone, especially due to a new rebel faction called the West Side Boys , leading to more attacks in and around Freetown in May 2000. Bockarie was reluctant to ask his forces to disarm amidst the new tension, and he and Sankoh had a falling out in the early spring of 2000. By the time Freetown was again embroiled in violence, Bockarie had fled to Liberia's capital, Monrovia . Rebel forces did not begin to disarm until 2001. On 3 March 2003, Sam Bockarie

1540-431: The countryside. He eventually moved to Liberia, and then to Abidjan , Côte d'Ivoire where he worked as a barber, electrician, and waiter. In 1989, Charles Taylor's National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) invaded Liberia from Côte d'Ivoire, where Bockarie was living at the time. However, Bockarie did not join until later that year, when he met recruits who were talking about taking action in Sierra Leone. He went with

1595-451: The direction of Charles Taylor , a former Liberian politician and guerrilla leader who served as the 22nd president of Liberia from 2 August 1997 until his resignation on 11 August 2003. The NPLF was responsible for a vast array of war crimes and crimes against humanity , including mass murder, rape, sexual slavery, conscription of child soldiers, torture, and political assassinations. Over 60,000 human rights violations committed by

1650-540: The fighting began, the World Health Organization estimated that up to 3,000 civilians and combatants had been killed. The SBU was composed of children as young as ten and twelve years old who were drugged by Taylor's men and trained how to throw grenades and shoot AK-47s overnight. Intense fighting occurred both within the city and its outskirts, with Gardnersville, Barnersville, New Georgia, and Caldwell suburban regions being particularly hard hit by

1705-498: The government of Ahmad Tejan Kabbah , including the use of mutilation and sexual violence. These attacks brought to the world the horrific images of children with missing arms and legs. He was also accused of recruiting child soldiers and abducting people to fight with him, and of attacking UN peacekeepers working under UNAMSIL . After fleeing Sierra Leone in 2000, Bockarie joined with Taylor's Anti-Terrorist Unit (ATU) in Liberia, (Bockarie moved to Liberia under an ECOWAS agreement with

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1760-480: The group to join guerrilla training exercises held along the border of Sierra Leone and Liberia. He was officially a part of the newly formed RUF in 1990, and was a part of the initial incursion into Sierra Leone in 1991. In 1992, Bockarie made the move into the upper leadership of the RUF, becoming Battle Group Commander, answerable only to the Battle Field Commander and Foday Sankoh, the leader of

1815-417: 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 RUF indicated that the reason for these actions was that amputees could no longer mine diamonds, which might be used to support government troops. The election slogan at that time

1870-482: The initial Liberian insurgents. Gaddafi and Compaoré continued their support for the NPFL by supplying arms and military advisors. Under the orders of Taylor and Compaoré , NPFL troops were actively involved in the 1987 Burkina Faso coup d'état and assassination of the then Burkinabé President Thomas Sankara . Journalist Mark Huband, who was kidnapped by the NPFL while reporting in Liberia, notes in his book The Liberian Civil War that Compaoré's involvement in

1925-407: The initials "RUF" on their chests, and officers reportedly rubbed cocaine into open cuts on their troops to make them maniacal and fearless. Before some battles and raids, the children would be given mixtures of cocaine and gunpowder. The gunpowder mixture was called " Brown-brown " and it allowed the cocaine to flow more freely through the blood stream. For entertainment, some soldiers would bet on

1980-498: The leadership positions of the organization. The NPFL rapidly expanded from a small force of a few hundred troops to a vast, irregular army that controlled almost 90% of Liberia within a year due to significant domestic support. NPFL efforts to capture the capital city of Monrovia were thwarted by the arrival of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) cease-fire monitoring group, ECOMOG . In response,

2035-454: The local diamond trade in the region. The Revolutionary United Front (RUF) emerged as a collective of Sierra Leonean nationals who endeavored to emulate Charles Taylor's previous triumph in overthrowing the Liberian government. Alongside founder Foday Sankoh , of Temne background, and allies Abu Kanu and Rashid Mansaray, the RUF received substantial assistance from Charles Taylor in developing

2090-490: The neighboring Sierra Leone and its ongoing civil war . The spill-over prompted the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to undertake a peacekeeping intervention. Subsequently, a peace agreement was signed in 1996, paving the way for democratic elections on 19 July 1997. Liberia's seven-year civil war was brought to an end by the democratic elections of 1997 . Preceding the elections, there were several treaties ratified to establish peace in Liberia. These include

2145-538: The population, and its widespread use of child soldiers. When it was first formed, the RUF put forward the slogan, "No More Slaves, No More Masters. Power and Wealth to the People." While its goal was clearly to change the government of Sierra Leone, the RUF gave little indication of what sort of government would replace it. The group did not advocate Marxism or any similar leftist ideology, nor did it advocate extreme nationalism or fascism . It also did not claim to be

2200-462: The presidency until February 1998. Bockarie held the position of Chief of Defence Staff in the RUF/AFRC led junta government. In January 1999, Bockarie along with AFRC commander Johnny Paul Koroma planned and made a devastating attack on Freetown , the capital of Sierra Leone. On 7 July 1999, the Lomé Peace Accord was signed by president Kabbah and RUF/AFRC leader Sankoh, after Sankoh had gotten

2255-694: The rebel group. Sirleaf later disavowed Taylor and went on to win a Nobel Peace Prize for supporting the non-violent struggle for the safety of women to participate in peace-building work. Tom Woewiyu served as the Defense Minister and spokesman of the NPLF and worked to justify the rebel group's mission and objectives to high ranking foreign officials. Martina Johnson was one of the NPFL front line commanders and allegedly directly participated in mutilation and mass killing in late 1992 during an NPFL offensive known as Operation Octopus. The rise of NPFL

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2310-567: The rebels. Approximately 200,000 people were displaced due to the conflict. The urgency of the conflict in Monrovia compelled ECOMOG to adopt a new defense strategy by enlisting the aid of other Liberian factions in combatting the NPFL. However, the human rights record of these factions, namely the United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO) and the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), were questionable. The AFL had been discredited due to its heinous abuses during

2365-417: The sex of an unborn baby and then slice open a woman's womb to determine the winner. The RUF abducted children aged 7 to 12, but were known to take children as young as 5 year olds. The children were notoriously known by captains and civilians for their unquestionable obedience and enormous cruelty. In response to the immediate execution of rebels by government forces, the RUF instituted a policy of cutting off

2420-589: The then Sierra Leonean President) eventually moving to the Ivory Coast , where he participated in the rebellion led by Guillaume Soro in connection with the Gbatala base headed by Charles Taylor . Under international pressure, Taylor initiated a policy of disengagement with regards to former RUF leaders, and officially expelled Bockarie from the country, although he was reported to have continued to travel freely between Liberia and Côte d'Ivoire. To secure peace in

2475-465: 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. National Patriotic Front of Liberia Rebel leader (1989–1997) President of Liberia (1997–2003) Post-Presidency (2003–present) The National Patriotic Front of Liberia ( NPFL )

2530-639: The war suited his Francophone fellow leaders who were as eager as France to confront the Anglo-Saxon presence in the region by promoting a rebellion that was certain to dilute American influence in West Africa. In the early 1980s, Liberia was also considered one of America’s most important African allies. During the Reagan administration, Liberia played a pivotal role in the United States' efforts to counteract Gaddafi's Libya, which had been identified as

2585-418: Was a Liberian rebel group that initiated and participated in the First Liberian Civil War from 24 December 1989 – 2 August 1997. The NPFL emerged out of rising ethnic tensions and civil unrest due to the Liberian government that was characterized by totalitarianism , corruption , and favoritism towards ethnic Krahns . The NPFL invaded Liberia through Ivory Coast’s border with Nimba County in Liberia under

2640-478: Was captured on 15 November 1985 and was killed and mutilated by Krahn soldiers loyal to Doe. Charles Taylor worked in the government of Samuel Doe , but was later removed following accusations of embezzlement and imprisoned by President Doe. Taylor would escape prison in 1989 and flee to Libya, where he was trained as a guerrilla fighter . He returned to Liberia in 1989 to overthrow the Doe government, now leading

2695-721: Was indicted for crimes against humanity , violation of the Geneva Convention and violation of international humanitarian law. He was slated for trial by the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL). Bockarie was accused of colluding with the AFRC/RUF coalition to take over much of Sierra Leone, particularly the diamond-rich areas such as the Kenema and Kono districts . During this time, Bockarie commanded his troops to attack civilian populations who he felt were supporting

2750-455: Was infamous during the Sierra Leone Civil War for his brutal tactics, which included amputation, mutilation, and rape. He earned the nickname "Mosquito" for his ability to attack when his enemies were off-guard, mainly during the night. During his service in the RUF, he befriended future Liberian president Charles Taylor , and RUF commander Foday Sankoh . When Sankoh was imprisoned from March 1997 until April 1999, Bockarie served as commander of

2805-466: 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. Four years later, during the sessions of the Special Court for Sierra Leone , prosecutors claimed that Charles Taylor had actively participated in directing the RUF's strategy from Liberia; among

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2860-412: Was met with allegations of unjust practices, such as giving handouts to the destitute and illiterate electorate, yet he claimed victory with 75 percent of the total votes cast. Sam Bockarie Samuel Sam Bockarie (2 October 1964 – 5 May 2003), widely known as Mosquito , was a Sierra Leonean politician and army commander who served as a leader of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF). Bockarie

2915-462: 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

2970-416: Was supported by African countries and leaders that extended far beyond Liberian borders. In the early stages of the NPFL, the rebel group was backed notably by Muammar Gaddafi , who served as the de facto leader of Libya from 1969 to 2011. Gaddafi was introduced to Taylor by the 2nd president of Burkina Faso , Blaise Compaoré . Both Libya and Burkina Faso served as training grounds and bases for

3025-509: Was the people "had power in their hands", so the RUF would hack off hands to prevent people from voting. RUF members are also said to have practised cannibalism. 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

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