In January 1994 the government claimed a series of successes against the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), the rebel movement that had been mounting attacks from bases in Liberia since 1991. Government forces recaptured rebel-held centres near Pujehun in southern Sierra Leone on January 11. Later in the month, however, it was reported that 100 civilians had been killed when the RUF razed several villages near Bo. On June 30 a rebel attack on the village of Telu led to the deaths of 58 civilians and 2 soldiers. The government launched a series of attacks on RUF positions near the diamond-mining centre of Kenema in August. In November the government called for a negotiated end to the fighting.

In December 1993 the government announced a schedule for the return to democracy and civilian rule, to take place by the end of 1995. The process was to begin with the creation of a National Electoral Commission that would oversee the registration of voters and defining of electoral boundaries. Work on a new constitution began in June 1994, and the finished document was to be put to a public referendum in May 1995. Presidential elections were to be held in November 1995 and general elections in December. In July Sierra Leone took part with Guinea and Liberia in talks on reactivating the largely defunct Mano River Union. The secretary-general of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, visited Sierra Leone during the year to discuss development problems and democracy.

Four Asian men from Britain were released in November as their trial on charges of treason began in Freetown. Accused of plotting to overthrow the government, the men had been held for more than a year. There were many baffling questions about the men and their activities, none of which was answered. Guy Arnold

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