Over the past decade Sierra Leone has undergone a tumultuous era which consisted of the stubborn restoration of democratic rule.  In 1996 the NPRC junta reluctantly handed power to Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah – about nine months later to the shock of the nation, rebel elements and some section of the military known as the AFRC/RUF coalition forcefully removed the democratic government of president Kabbah.  After another nine month, Nigerian led ECOMOG forces invaded Sierra Leone and removed the rebel/army coalition junta.  As if this was not enough the city of Freetown witnessed the most atrocious events seen in the war as invading rebels slaughtered hundreds and committed heinous atrocities against armless civilians.  This was the turning point that forced the international community to bargain a peaceful resolution to the nation’s seemingly intractable and costly arm conflict; in mid 1999 the Lome Peace Accord was signed by President Kabbah, Foday Sankoh and Major Johnny Paul Koroma. The controversial implementation of the accord which included power sharing with rebels who had committed severe atrocities against the civilian population all started off well, thousands of UN troops were already in the country by April 2000.
However, disaster struck once more when the implementation of the disarmament process came – the RUF started dragging their feet and finally crippled the Accord when they held hostage hundreds of UN troops from Kenya and Zambia in April 2000, once more Sierra Leone was on the brink of yet another disastrous showdown on May 8 2000.
Hundreds of demonstrators who had bravely marched to corporal Foday Sankoh’s residence at Spur Road were bombarded with rockets propelled grenades and bullets, several lost their lives whilst hundreds sustained grave injuries.  The result was an unprecedented arrival of British paratroopers which brought the problem in Sierra Leone to international attention; the conflict was beamed across the entire world’s leading broadcasting media.  The British intervention strengthened the UN forces and salvaged the already deplorable solution in the country.
Two years later, Sierra Leoneans went to the polls – sending a dear message by voting against those who contributed to the destruction of the country.  An era of peace was ushered in after a turbulent period of anarchy that had wrought through this once peaceful country.
Nonetheless, the question now is that as Sierra Leone enters the year 2007 what prospects does the nation have for its long term socio economic and political future? The New Year really promises to be a crossroad in the continued path of peace and moves towards developing the nation’s battered infrastructure.  Because it is an election year, ordinary Sierra Leoneans will have to go at politicians taking them to task and asking them what they have done to uplift the country from the depth of poverty, illiteracy and health problems.  Apart from the issues of development that is set to take a centre stage in election 2007, there are also two other issues that pose a serious threat not only to the development aspirations of the country but also to the maintenance of much needed security and the quality of the nation.
Firstly, there has already been a major political upheaval in all the major political parties in the country that has radically changed the face of these political parties and also led to an acrimonious polarization of splintered groups.  For instance the ruling SLPP had some section of its disgruntled membership leaving the party to form the new (PMDC) People’s Movement for Democratic Change. The new PMDC headed by Charles Margai, a bitter opponent of Solomon Berewa who defeated him (Margai) in last year’s SLPP convention is a party that has already infiltrated some members of the ruling government. And the acrimony has already begun as the PMDC spearheads a bitter opposition against former allies who they (PMDC) have referred to as lacking the support of people and therefore bound to loose the elections.  On the other hand there is the APC a party that has been severely dented by recent spate of infighting and internal strife.  Up till now core members of the party have refused to give legitimacy to the current opposition leader and flag bearer of the party, Ernest Bai Koroma.  The question in the minds of observers is that can these breed of politicians be able to play a fair and acceptable card in the upcoming national elections when they cannot even agree on party conventions and constitutions.  The nightmare scenario is that, if this is the case, a deadlock situation will seriously jeopardize the peace of the country as power hungry politicians will surely enter the dogfight for political power at the expense of peace and gravity.
Secondly, there is the issue of tribalism which is not a common problem in Sierra Leone but can be used by power hungry politicians during election time to galvanize support from a group or to form opposition against opponents.  They usually don’t play these politics in the open; they play it in the background using paramount chiefs and other district commissioners to exploit the people tribal sensibilities and use it to their own advantage.
As hard as it can be for any political scientist to predict the prospect for Sierra Leone in the year 2007: whatever the case may be, one could simply hope for a smooth transition at the end of the Kabbah era.  The recent experiences of Sierra Leonean people is surely a food for thought for them, after all the recent troubles and calamities Sierra Leoneans really don’t only want to put back these sad years of the nation’s dark chapters in the dustbin, but more significantly for them – they are looking for a new period in which the political elites will steer the country to a blissful period of tranquility and prosperity for all.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/politics-articles/a-decade-of-disastrous-conflict-and-the-emergence-of-peace-what-prospect-lies-for-sierra-leone-in-2007-1082731.html