The Revolutionary United Front other wise known as RUF was a rebel army that fought a failed eleven-year war in Sierra Leone, starting in 1991 and ending in 2002. It later developed into a political party, which still exists today. The three senior surviving leaders, Issa Sesay, Morris Kallon and Augustine Gbao, were convicted in February 2009 of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Diamonds have become an important resource for RUF in sustaining and advancing its military ambitions. Estimates of the volume of RUF diamonds vary widely, from as little as $25 million per year to as much as $125 million. It represents a major and primary source of income for the RUF, and is more than enough to sustain its military activities. President Charles Taylor of Liberia provided support and leadership to the RUF. Libya, Gambia, and Burkina Faso as conduits for weapons and other materiel for the RUF.
Interesting Facts
- There was a Law & Order episode called “ Blood Money” that was centeredaround the conflict in Sierra Leone and the traffic in conflict diamonds
- RUF was featured significantly in the 2006 movie Blood diamond
- 11,000 child soldiers are thought to have participated in the conflict
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