Witness to Truth - Volume Three A (Chapter 1: Historical Antecedents to the Conflict)

Historical Antecedents to the Conflict

This chapter reflects a brief summary of the Commission's research into the 'Historical Antecedents to the Conflict'. The chapter attempts to locate causes of conflict in Sierra Leone's past, place the conflict within its proper historical context and offer explanations for what went wrong. It identifies social trends that spawned division and confrontation between the various groups that make up Sierra Leone. It picks out fault lines and key events that created the structural conditions for conflict. It highlights decisions on the part of the political elite that were designed to strengthen their grip on power at the expense of common benefit, progress and ultimately peace.