Columbia International Affairs Online: Working Papers

CIAO DATE: 07/2008

Sierra Leone: Reform or Relapse? Conflict and Governance Reform

Brian Thomson

June 2007

Chatham House

Abstract

This report, released in the wake of UK Prime Minister Blair's visit to the country, and ahead of Sierra Leone's elections in August, explores the degree to which the underlying causes of the recent civil war have been tackled. The report argues that while successful efforts to reform the security sector and economy have been made, the underlying causes of the conflict - patronage networks, youth unemployment and corruption - are worsening once more and that without action Sierra Leone will become increasingly vulnerable to instability and violence.