Once Upon a Time in Freetown (1996-1999): We Want Peace

By Mink Jawandor and Emi Maxwell

This book provides a vivid reminder, a raw and unfiltered account of the brutal civil war Sierra Leoneans fought, especially residents of Freetown from 1996-1999 . This book contains about Fifty-five thousand words with ten chapters. The book dissects Elections, Military Coups and the tangled web of military factions of the Disbanded Sierra Leone military (AFRC) and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) . And also, local militia groups formed by local tribal men, for example the Kamajor's, Tamaboroh's, etc. This book is an historical work that will allow all Sierra Leonean to have a clear reflection of our recent past because the author did not shy away from explicitly explaining the detailed horrors of the civil war in our beloved country that openly depict bad actors and disgruntled politicians, military personnels and desperate youths across the nation. To give readers a brief insight of the book, in chronological order the writer explain about when the civil war officially enters Freetown from 1996-1999 and how residents of Freetown cope with the AFRC soldiers, RUF rebels and the bombardment from the West African Peacekeeping Force ECOMOG and more. Explained in detail how Freetown youths were engaged in soccer tournaments, music and other art forms during this time. Furthermore, the writer also explained in detail at the height of the civil crisis in Freetown how all factions that were involved in the conflicts failed to address mob justice that led to the killing of a young vibrant man by the name of Sheik Mohamed Mujtabah in the Fourah-bay community that chapter five of the book talked about in detail. This Book also tell stories that reminds us of Names that served as mouthpieces of all factions that were caught up in the POWER STRUGGLE names like; Alieu Kamara, Julius Spencer Omrie Golley and more and how their propaganda messages brought death to the doorsteps of residents of Freetown during 1996-1999 at the peak of the civil war in the city. This Book also geared towards scholars that are studying courses like African Studies or conflict management, that is why the conclusions heavily discuss the neglect the ECOWAS have display in guiding political regulations in the regional bloc that have led to the attraction of discontent soldiers forming military coups in the Sahel of Africa. On chapter nine the book cites examples of ousted presidents like Alpha Conda, Ali Bongo, Mohamed Bazoum and more all were overthrown by soldiers' discontent with the government behavior. And in chapter 10 the author talked about the legacy of the war left in Freetown that badly affected national development. From 1996 -1999 Sierra Leone became a shell of itself due to deliberate political desperation made Sierra Leone the most dangerous place for independent journalism during that time period and the only known entities that came to the rescue of Sierra Leone was the European Union, World Bank and the US even the ECOWAS was incapable of financially aided Sierra Leone to rebuild. The Book should serve as a quick reminder of how African politicians are deliberate in their ignorance. The author also explains about how Amnesty International advised the Sierra Leone government to grant clemency to the soldiers that were arrested after the ECOMOG military intervention 1998, but the government refused which served partly as the recipe for January 6, massacre in1999. Furthermore, the author talked about some of the few fun nostalgic times the youths of Freetown had during the standstill of the Revo of AFRC Junta government and also, how Joseph Hill and the root reggae band visited Freetown at the height of the crisis December 1998 few days before January 6, attack in the city 1999.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0DF926S4Z
• ISBN13: 9798336226447
• Release Date: August 2024
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 261 Pages
• Weight: 0.66 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.8" x 6.0"