African Police Resource Network

Sierra Leone

Country Background

The government is slowly reestablishing its authority after the civil war from 1991 to 2002 that resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people (about one-third of the population). The last UN peacekeepers withdrew in December 2005 leaving full responsibility for security with domestic forces. A new civilian UN mission - the UN Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) - was established to support the government's efforts to consolidate peace. The most pressing long-term threat to stability in Sierra Leone is the potential for political insecurity surrounding elections in July 2007.

Extract From:

The World Factbook

Please find a list of all documents in our database relevant to Sierra Leone. Use the checkbox next to each line to expand more detail about the file, including the option to download.

Category	Date	Title	Detail
Publications	2005	Security Sector Governance in West Africa: Turning Principles into Practice
Description: "This article argues that although the creation of democratic spaces in democratising states or complete rebuilding of collapsed states provides greater opportunities for security sector reform (SSR), democratisation does not necessarily lead to democratic governance of the security sector. To illustrate these points, a categorisation is proposed, clarifying each West African state against a number of signposts linked to security sector governance". DCAF Policy Paper No 8. Author: Bryden, A., N'Diaye, B., & Olonisakin, F. Publisher: Geneva: Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) Source: http://www.dcaf.ch/_docs/pp08_security_sector_governance_west_africa.pdf,
Publications	2004	Liberia and Sierra Leone: Rebuilding Failed States
Description: The interventions in Liberia and Sierra Leone are failing to produce states that will be stable and capable of exercising the full range of sovereign responsibilities on behalf of their long–suffering populations. This is essentially because they treat peacebuilding as implementing an operational checklist involving fixes to various institutions and processes, without tackling underlying political dynamics. At best, Liberia is on the path Sierra Leone entered upon several years earlier. A fresh strategy is needed if both are not to remain shadow states, vulnerable to new fighting and state failure. The international community needs to make genuinely long–term commitment not two to five years, as at present, but on the order of fifteen to 25 years to enable new political forces to develop. Author: International Crisis Group Publisher: Brussels: International Crisis Group Source: http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=3156 Filename: KMBT25020070820194026.pdf  [File Size: 9.71 MB] (Click to download)
Publications	2003	Policing Sierra Leone in Sierra Leone - Building the Road to Recovery
Description: "The Sierra Leone Police (SLP) are obviously an integral part of the national and individual security equation in Sierra Leone, but their role is discussed separately in Chapter 6. Like the army, the SLP has been seriously compromised over the years by corruption and mismanagement, and its ranks were much depleted during the war by murderous attacks that systematically destroyed the police infrastructure, records and communications. This chapter reports on efforts to rebuild the SLP, with specific reference to training, recruitment and deployment, and the invaluable assistance being provided by both UNAMSIL Civilian Police and the Commonwealth Community Safety and Security Project (CCSSP). It concludes with a summary of the challenges that lie ahead for the policing component of the larger rule of law project for Sierra Leone." (Extract from Introduction) Author: Meek, S Publisher: Pretoria: Institute for Security Studies. ISS Monograph Series No 80. Source: http://www.iss.co.za/Pubs/Monographs/No80/Chap6.html
Publications	2006	The African Post-conflict Policing Agenda in Sierra Leone
Description: This Article examines policing in Sierra Leone four years after the civil war. It evaluates the achievements in the area of policing against the major policing challenges in African post–conflict societies The research finds that for all the positive achievements, the fact remains that the government of Sierra Leone still does not exert effective control over, nor is it able to deliver state policing services to, significant parts of its own territory. Author: Baker, B. Journal: Conflict, Security & Development, 6 (1): 25-50 Source: http://www.africanpolicing.org/Bruce's%20Docs/2_Post_Conflict_Policing_Agenda_2.pdf
Publications	2005	Supporting Security, Justice, and Development: Lessons for a New Era
Description: In developing countries, insecurity and poverty are increasingly linked, leading to a growing global interest in the allocation of transitional assistance and international aid assistance. An expanding focus of national and multinational assistance involves criminal justice reform in policing, victim´s rights, and judicial systemsas part of both development assistance and post–conflict assistance. For a larger study commissioned by the UK government to review existing work in the areas of safety and justice, this paper draws together lessons from the experiences of recent UK–funded policing and justice programs in seven countries: Afghanistan, India, Jamaica, Malawi, Nepal, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. Article summary. Author: Stone, C ; Miller, J; Thornton,M and Trone, J Publisher: New York: Vera Instituteof Justice Source: http://www.vera.org/publication_pdf/298_560.pdf
Publications	2004	Security Sector Reform in Sierra Leone
Description: This document looks at some of the important key processes that supported conflict resolution activities in Sierra Leone. It by no means provides a comprehensive analysis rather it is designed to draw attention to some of the processes that were used to inform conflict resolution activities that might be being considered elsewhere. Author: Fitz-Gerald, A Publisher: Shrivenham: Global Facilitating Network for Security Sector Reform (GFN-SSR) Source: http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display/document/legacyid/1726 Filename: KMBT25020070820193320.pdf  [File Size: 5.45 MB] (Click to download)
Publications	2004	From Transitional to Sustainable Justice: Human Rights Assistance to Sierra Leone
Description: "After the 1991–2002 war, the international community invested heavily in setting up transitional justice mechanisms in Sierra Leone. However, fundamental issues like national reconciliation, a responsive and non–corrupt police and local access to justice remain elusive. What has gone wrong? This study by the Clingendael Conflict Research Unit (CRU) argues that in order for Sierra Leone to move from ephemeral transitional justice to sustainable rule of law, capacity–building of key domestic institutions needs to be taken more seriously". Author: Douma, P. and de Zeeuw, J. Publisher: Clingendael Conflict Research Unit Policy Brief no.1 Source: http://www.ssrnetwork.net/doc_library/document_detail.php?id=2200
Publications	2004	International Post-Conflict Policing Operations: Enhancing Co-ordination and Effectiveness.
Description: On the 26–30 January 2004 an international conference was held on International Post–Conflict Policing Operations: Enhancing Co–ordination and Effectiveness. Participants consisted of officials, practitioners, policy makers, and independent experts concerned with international policing missions. This summary of the Conference is designed to outline recommended action for practitioners and policy makers Author: Wilton Park Conference S03/4 Source: http://www.wiltonpark.org.uk/documents/conferences/WPS04-3/pdfs/WPS04-3.pdf
Publications	2004	Police Reform through Community-Based Policing: Philosophy and Guidelines for Implementation
Description: “Police services that enjoy community support and improve security can have a positive impact on development. In this way, police reform has become a key element of conflict management. Drawing on a two–day workshop organised by the International Peace Academy and Saferworld, this report proposes an implementation framework for community–based policing. It emphasises the importance of a clear philosophy, a carefully thought–out plan and a well–managed process to achieve it. Donors and international organisations are becoming increasingly involved in police reform. The task is complex and often encounters political, financial, logistical and historical obstacles. A better understanding of what is required for effective police reform is essential. A community–based approach aims both to reform the police and to improve their public image. It is not confined to dealing with crime, but proposes that police and communities work together to address citizens’ concerns. If successful, it can support development, as well as boosting security. Besides a well–planned strategy for reform, a minimum level of order and political commitment are required to make it work. International actors need to co–ordinate their work based on a shared understanding of goals. The community–policing programme in Sierra Leone has been particularly successful.” Author: Groenewald, H & Peake, G Publisher: New York: International Peace Academy/Saferworld Source: http://www.ssrnetwork.net/doc_library/document_detail.php?id=2165 Filename: KMBT25020070820192303.pdf  [File Size: 3.81 MB] (Click to download)
Publications	2007	Allegations of human rights abuses perpetrated by police in Sierra Leone during 2006/2007
Description: Despite a Commonwealth–run training program from 1998 to 2005 and current efforts by the JSDP and UNIOSIL, throughout 2006 the police exhibited unprofessional and often illegal conduct. This included widespread extortion from civilians (such as the placing of unauthorized checkpoints to obtain money from passing vehicles), rape of female detainees in remand facilities, and requiring victims of crimes to pay the police to file reports or conduct investigations. While numerous police officers were dismissed for purported criminal acts during 2006, there was little effort to hold them accountable for these crimes. Author: Human Rights Watch Publisher: Human Rights Watch Source: http://hrw.org/englishwr2k7/docs/2007/01/11/sierra14713.htm

 

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