Sierra Leone as Post-Conflict Peacekeeper

Sierra Leone’s contribution of peacekeepers became integral to the post-conflict reconstruction of its armed forces, enabled and pushed forward by external partners, most prominently the UK. Internal and external factors intertwined to advance this trajectory, from national identity to income generation, international support and domestic crises. 

The country’s trajectory grew from unique circumstances – with international partners playing an exceptionally central role in driving the process forward. Such factors make Sierra Leone an important case to interrogate, against the backdrop of existing theoretical frameworks that seek to explain why states contribute troops.

These are the main findings in a new article in Conflict, Security & Development exploring Sierra Leone’s trajectory from host of the world’s largest peace-support operations to provider of peacekeepers elsewhere.