Human Rights Issues Affecting Sierra Leone's Youth

Child Soldier INTERVIEWS

One of the most tragic aspects of Sierra Leone's civil war was the widespread use of child soldiers. According to United Nations estimates, more than 7, 0000 children were actively engaged in conflict-related activities. While no two stories are alike, these three ex-combatants represent the experience of the nation's children who were forced into war.

ALPHA, 21:
Alpha was 11 when he was captured in 1995 after Revolutionary United Front (RUF) forces set fire to a minibus traveling from Bo in the southern part of Sierra Leone to Freetown. He was lucky to escape the fire by jumping from the window of the vehicle. However, rebel forces were waiting in ambush to capture him and he spent the war in Okra Hill, a popular rebel hangout.
In his own words:
"During my stay with the rebels, I was forced to learn how to operate light firearms and how to kill people. I was also in charge of sweeping and mopping. I was treated badly even though they give me lots of food. The saddest part of the story was that I was forced to kill my own mother… Sometimes, when my seniors captured civilians they used to ask me to shoot at the individual and if I fail to do it they will rather point the gun at me."

Alpha stayed with the rebels for two years, escaping after West African Peacekeeping Forces (ECOMOG) took control of Freetown by walking to a main road where he found a truck that took him to safety. He is currently a small-scale businessman in Freetown.

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Fatmata, 19:
Fatmata is just one of many girls who were abducted and conscripted into the RUF. Born in the Northern region of Sierra Leone, Fatmata was captured in 1998 by rebels while attempting to flee from Kissy. She and her family had hoped to reach the ECOMOG troops and secure their safety, but they never made it. Once abducted, she was separated from her family and underwent violent a experience.
In her own words:
"I was always beaten regularly and forced to join them. Some even threatened to kill me if I refused to join them. I was later taken into a room where three men raped me and they gave me a gun to shoot and kill civilians but I refused to kill anybody at that time."

Although she fought her captors, Fatmata was forced to leave Freetown with the RUF when they were expelled from the city. She then traveled to Makeni, where she was forced to take part in one of the brutal attacks on villages that were a common feature of this war. In that raid, she was forced to attack civilians, loot their property, and even kill a very elderly woman. Shortly thereafter, she returned to Freetown and was forced to burn down the home of a Parliament member when the RUF could not find her to assassinate. Fatmata later escaped by running away, despite the obvious peril for her life.

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Sheku, 18:
Sheku was captured in 1996 by RUF forces in his family's central Freetown home. Like many other abductees, he was threatened with death if he tried to escape. Fearing for his life, he remained with the RUF in the bush. He was transported to Kailahun, the Eastern Province where the war had originated and where his field assignments included caring for stolen property and later operating guns.
In his own words:
"After awhile, I was accompanying them to battles. I was used as a spy because I was very young. In the jungle, I had both terrible and challenging experiences. Everything was done in a violent manner… sometimes they killed people in my sight. I was not happy with that, but I could do nothing to stop it"

Even though Sheku was forced to spy and witness such atrocities, he remained a prisoner of the RUF. His liberation finally came with the official disarmament of all RUF combatants by United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) forces on October 25, 2001 when he surrendered his arms and ammunition. After completing the Demobilization, Disarmament and Reintegration (DDR) process, Sheku learned the carpentry trade. Those newly-acquired carpentry skills have turned into a profitable career and he is currently a well-known carpenter in Freetown.

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