Sierra Leone: A demonstration held on 8 May 2000 against Foday Sankoh
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 18 December 2001 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | SLE38126.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Sierra Leone: A demonstration held on 8 May 2000 against Foday Sankoh, 18 December 2001, SLE38126.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4bea910.html [accessed 1 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to Country Reports 2000
on May 8, 8,000 to 9,000 persons, including doctors, lawyers, teachers, petty traders, union leaders, and others marched through Freetown and demonstrated outside Foday Sankoh's residence in Freetown to protest the behaviour of the RUF, the detention of hundreds of U.N. peackeeping troops, and Foday Sankoh. Peacekeepers fired into the air but were unable to keep demonstrators from continuing toward Sankoh's house. RUF members opened fired on demonstrators, killing at least 20 persons and injuring at least 80 others (Feb. 2000).
Reports by BBC News (17 May 2000a), Associated Press (10 Aug. 2000), and The London Free Press (9 May 2000) corroborate the above information with varying numbers of people who were killed and injured. The London Free Press states that "the escalation of violence in Freetown began when at least 5,000 marchers rallying for an end to hostilities and to denounce the rebels began moving toward Sankoh's house, hurling large rocks at the home" (9 May 2000a).
According to BBC, Foday Sankoh, leader of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) went missing after the demonstration. He was later "captured" and handed over to British forces in Freetown under the United Nations force (BBC News 17 May 2000a; ibid. 17 May 2001b). By the end of 2000, Foday Sankoh was still in government custody (Country Reports 2000, Feb. 2001).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Associated Press (AP). 10 August 2000. Clarence Roy-Macaulay. "Sierra Leone Releases Rebel prisoners, Both Sides Start Talks." (NEXIS)
BBC News [London]. 17 May 2000a. "Rebel Leader in Secret Custody."
_____. 17 May 2000b. What Now for Sankoh?"
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2000. 2001. United States Department of State. Washington, DC.
The London Free Press. 9 May 2000. "Protesters Die in Hail of Gunfire as UN Troops Brushed Aside." (NEXIS)
