Sierra Leone: Struggle for Independence
by Kai Mans

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               More than 30,000 children have been abducted as child soldiers and slaves in Sierra Leone’s more than 20 year civil war. Once the children are taken in as soldiers they are forced to burn down villages and torture and kill many of their neighbors. Abducted girls are usually raped and become sex slaves or what they call wives. Many do not live through all of these atrocities.             Portugal was the first nation to colonize Sierra Leone. Before Portugal England came but did not colonize it. But it is believed they were the first Europeans to step foot into Sierra Leone. In 1941 Sierra Leone started fighting back from their European intruders. That’s when child soldiers and civil wars started up. On April 21, 1961, Sierra Leone gained their independence against Britain (Village Aid Africa). Britain Treated the African very poorly they would use many of them as slaves and kill many others. Although many nations in Africa have gained independence many still fight over land and control. Sierra Leone went through many hardships to gain freedom along with the child soldiers and civil wars they also had people being taken as slaves it was estimated in 1789 that 74,000 slaves were shipped off to other countries (Sierra Leone History).             In Sierra Leone English is the main language spoken, but it also includes many others such as Mende, Themne, Creole, Limba, and Kuranko. The current relationship between Portugal and Sierra Leone is neutral. They do not feel anything against each other they do not hate or like each other.  Hawa Dumbaya was eight years old when a rebel leader brought her into the jungle and was forced to be his wife. When he found her his machete was still wet with blood of her neighbors. For four years she served as his slave accompanying him on missions during the day and then being raped during the night. She is now 18 and is rejected by her community to and known as a rebel wife. She now hopes that she can go to school and get an education. This is some of the stuff that happens in the civil wars lately in Sierra Leone. In 1961 the stories would have been much different they would be about slavery and people being taken from their families to be sent to different countries.


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