 SIERRA
LEONE: A NEW DAY |
Two years ago Sierra Leone woke up from a nightmare.
After 11 years of civil war between the government
and rebel forces, the national elections held in
May 2002 finally seemed to bring the country together.
Thanks to a strong United Nations presence and
committed financial support from international
aid organisations, Sierra Leone woke up to a new
day that is promising to bring prosperity and
growth.
The country is re-building itself from the ground
up - focusing on basic needs such as infrastructure
development, employment, social justice and education.
President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah has been leading
the charge to reconstruct the country's image
and restore the nation's unity.
"As we strive to be a progressive and united
people, the violent option should be buried with
the past. Our best efforts will be directed at
building our national institutions and capacities"
said President Kabbah in a recent speech.
The democratic elections in 2002 have signalled
a turning point for the country, and for the first
time in decades the government is seeking to adopt
long-term, sustainable development policies that
should set the tone for continuing economic growth.
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| A NEW CHAPTER |
It is important to keep reality in check when
talking about Sierra Leone: there is still a long
way to go in order for the country to reach its
true potential. "Having achieved peace after
a decade-long destructive civil conflict, Sierra
Leone indeed has enormous development challenges
to grapple with over the next two decades or more"
admits President Kabbah.
Yet there is one thing that is true: the nightmare
is over. Today, with persistence and support from
international organisations, Sierra Leone is finally
turning a new leaf towards peace, rehabilitation
and modernization.
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