The Westside Boys  The story of the West Side Boys is one of the darkest chapters in the history of Sierra Leone. The group emerged during the country's brutal civil war and became notorious for violence, abductions and attacks on civilians. Their eventual confrontation with British forces in 2000 became one of the most dramatic episodes of the conflict. The Sierra Leone Civil War Sierra Leone's civil war began in 1991, when the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), led by Foday Sankoh, launched an armed rebellion against the government. The conflict lasted for almost a decade and involved several armed groups, including the RUF, the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), the Sierra Leone Army and various civilian militias. Sierra Leone's Truth and Reconciliation Commission later concluded that deep problems including poor governance, corruption, weak institutions and violations of human rights had contributed to the condition...

  GUEST WRITER : Demetria Herman Banda (Writer & Constable)  Qualification- Degree in Journalism. “Why me?! Why!” A scream echoed in all directions of the neighbourhood. People wondered, babies cried, birds ran.  “Who could that be?” asked Mrs Bulea. Nobody dared to recognise my voice. It was a voice of a heart broken woman. A voice of sadness. It expressed hatred. In no time the voice came through the walls again. It was me, the respected single lady. I couldn’t help it but rent in sadness’ peace less house. Mrs Bulea, the neighbourhood’s all time gossiper, made a good guess of my voice. Thanks to her eardrums. “That must be Delia,” she guessed to fellow women who were having a women gathering. No answer came past any woman’s mouth. “Am sure of it,” Mrs Bulea backed her guess. “Why are you suggesting that it’s my neighbour?” Mrs Mwawa wanted to know. “You know she is the only one in this neighbourhood whom life got hard on the day of every boy’s dream,” said ...