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Freetown Founded
British abolitionists founded Freetown as a refuge for slaves. -
Freetown becomes British colony
Freetown becam an official British colony. -
First Leader
Sir Milton Margai became Sierra Leone's first chief minister. -
Sierra Leone gains Independence
Sierra Leone became independent from British rule. -
Siaka Stevens became President
After Sierra Leone is declared a rebublic, Siaka Stevens is named President. -
New Constitution
New constitution proclaims that Sierra Leone is now a one-party state. -
New President
Major-General Jospeh Momoh became president after Steven's retirement. -
Economic Emergency
Momoh declares an economic state of emergency. -
Civil War
Foday Sankoh and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) began their campaign against President Momoh by capturing border towns in Libya. -
Constitution Revised
Constitution revised and multiparty system adopted. -
Peace Deal Signed
President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah signed peace deal with Sankoh's rebels. -
Peace Deal Broken
President Kabbah attacked by army. Constitution suspended, demonstrations banned, and political parties abolished. -
Suspension
Commonwealth suspended Sierra Leone because of war. -
Banning of Weapons and Oil
The UN banned weapons and oil products in Sierra Leone becuase of their civil war. -
Storming of Freetown
An intervention league stormed Freetown and drove rebels out of the capital. -
Seizing of Freetown
A group of rebels backed by the Revolutionary United Front leader Foday Sankoh seized parts of Freetown. This caused a bitter fight, leaving over 5,000 dead and the city devastated. -
New Peace Deal
New peace deal signed, which claimed that the rebels would not be charged with war crimes. The UN arrived shortly after to police the peace deal. -
UN Under Attack
Rebel forces attacked the UN police in the east part of the country, and hundreds of UN officials were abducted. -
Rebellion Begins to Break Down
After the capture of Rebel leader Foday Sankoh, the rebel troops bega to disarm and disband. Th Brtish-trained army of Serra Leone began to deply in rebel areas. -
War Declared Over
The UN officially declared the end of Sierra Leone's civil war. They set up war-crime courts to charge the rebels with their crimes. -
Trials Begin
The first war-crime trials began against the rebels. -
UN Leaves
The last UN officials leave Sierra Leone, and the country is finally stable enough to run its own government. -
First Elections
Sierra Leone held its first election since the UN left. President oroma is elected for his second and final term in office, along with many other goverment officials.
