SubSaharan Africa 431
450 Liberia/740 Japan
MID#3526
Started in January 1944. See the narrative in the 255 Germany/450 Liberia dyad dis-
pute list.
451 Sierra Leone/452 Ghana
MID#4251
Started in May 1997. See the narrative in the 451 Sierra Leone/475 Nigeria dyad dispute
list.
451 Sierra Leone/475 Nigeria
MID#4251
Dispute Number: 4251
Date(s): May 27, 1997 to March 10, 1998
Participants: 438 Guinea, 452 Ghana, 475 Nigeria/451 Sierra Leone
Outcome (and Settlement): Victory for side A (Imposed)
Fatalities: 101–250 deaths
Narrative: This dispute began when Nigeria intervened on behalf of Sierra Leone’s
ousted government which was removed from power on May 25, 1997, by rebel forces
led by Major Johnny Paul Koroma. Ousted President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah fled to
Guinea and called for help to restore his government to power. Nigerian troops began
moving into Freetown, Sierra Leone’s capital, to prevent the fighting and tensions
from deteriorating. Nigeria entered the country under the auspices of the Economic
Community of Western African States (ECOWAS).
On May 31, 1997, Ghana joined with Nigeria in calling for a military inter-
vention to end the coup in Sierra Leone. Even though Nigeria claimed that this
was a mission by the West African defense forces with the help of Ghana and
Guinea, Nigeria provided most of the troops and was essentially acting unilater-
ally. Fighting between Nigerian troops and those of the Sierra Leone’s military
junta continued throughout the summer of 1997. In mid-August, the nations of
ECOWAS vowed that they would uphold the blockade of Sierra Leone’s ports
and called upon the international community to place sanctions on the country
and its military junta. In October, Nigeria began bombing targets in and around
Freetown. Fighting and Nigerian occupation of some of Sierra Leone’s territory
continued through the winter. On February 14, 1998, Freetown fell to Nigerian
forces as Sierra Leone’s military junta fled, clearing the way for the return of the
ousted President Kabbah. ECOWAS determined that Kabbah and his government
could return to Nigeria on March 10.