Sierra Leone

Ishmael Beah On Sierra Leone
Ishmael Beah, 15, now returns to a place in which he has seen peace and violence. Dramatic changes in his life have left him unsure of how to live. Unfortunately for him the peace that Sierra Leone has just received has been torn by violence of war once again. Beah listens to the radio, he says, “His name, he said, was Johnny Paul Korama, and he was the leader of the AFRC.”
On May 25, 1997 news had been announced that the AFRC, Sierra Leone’s Armed Forces had overthrown President Kabbah, and have joined together with the RUF, Sierra Leone’s rebels. Once again, the hope of the people of Sierra Leone has been violently torn from them, Beah’s included. He says, “Why does everyone keep dying except me?” Death is everywhere and everyone gets a piece of it.
In Freetown where Beah was residing gunshots had began to rain down again and for the next five months they continue to do so. The soldiers or “the sobels” as Beah calls them have terrorized the towns in Sierra Leone.   Three months ago the “sobels” had taken control of all banks, schools, and other buildings. Accordingly, they also took control of all food supply, which causes problems for the people. Luckily, Beah had heard of a secret marketplace has been selling unavailable goods to civilians. Unfortunately on the other hand, on the way back from the market soldiers stop Beah in his tracks. However, luckily again, he was able to escape nearly dodging open fire aimed at them. Many lives of adults and young children have been lost due to lack of food leading to the inevitable starvation.
After participating as a child soldier and spending time in a UNICEF recovery camp after that, Beah had decided to leave Sierra Leone once and for all.   After five months of constant gunfire, Beah loses his uncle to illness. At that moment Beah realizes he has nothing left to lose as he has lost his uncle, his only living relative, he knows he must leave. He begins to prepare for his journey to New... [continues]

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