SUMMARY

The Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) was an armed group active in the intrastate armed conflict in Sierra Leone. It originated as a military junta that was established after renegade military personnel from the Sierra Leonean army mounted a coup against the Government of Sierra Leone under Ahmed Tejan Kabbah in May 1997. Having ousted the sitting government, AFRC thus made up the government side in the conflict until it was removed by forces supporting Kabbah, on 10 March 1998. After this, the group constituted the opposition side, despite its name functioning as a rebel group.

The AFRC was led by Major Johnny Paul Koroma, who had been an officer in the Sierra Leonean Army and imprisoned by the Government of Sierra Leone under President Kabbah, for plotting a coup. Other senior leaders included Alex Tamba “Gullit” Brima, Santigie Borbor “Five-Five” Kanu and Ibrahim “Brima” Bazzy Kamara, who were members of the AFRC Supreme Council. Foday Sankoh, leader of fellow-rebel group RUF, was Vice Chairman of the AFRC. All five were later indicted by the Special Court for Sierra Leone.

The AFRC was categorized as a left wing group, although it was hard to pinpoint any real policies or visions behind it or motivation for the original coup beyond personal gain for Koroma. Nonetheless, the AFRC claimed that its actions were in response to the failure of the Kabbah-led government to end the conflict against RUF). Some AFRC members also accused the Kabbah-led government of being undemocratic and favoring certain ethnic groups with influential government appointments.

Many AFRC members were of western or northern origin and comprised of disgruntled elements of the Sierra Leonean army, who resented the resources provided by the Kabbah-led government to the Kamajors, who effectively became a semi-paramilitary force for the government.

It was estimated that the AFRC numbered between 8000 and 14 000 troops.

During its time in power, AFRC was closely allied to RUF with the two groups united against their common enemies: the Kamajors and the invading ECOMOG forces, who were fighting to reinstate Kabbah. This alliance remained after the junta was removed from power. As fighters withdrew to the countryside, the distinction between the two groups became ever more blurred, until AFRC in a way seized to exist in late 1999.