Inside Sierra Leone

Reuters Published April 20, 2012
Students say a prayer before going to class at the Every Nation Academy private school in the city of Makeni in Sierra Leone, April 20.
Students say a prayer before going to class at the Every Nation Academy private school in the city of Makeni in Sierra Leone, April 20.
Sulaiman Conteh, 25, stands in front of his empty kiosk which he said was looted on Wednesday by police who opened fire on a crowd of protesters in the mining town of Bumbuna April 19. A woman was shot and killed and several others were wounded when police opened fire on a crowd protesting wages and working conditions at the British mining company African Minerals on Wednesday, according to witnesses, hospital staff and police officials.
Sulaiman Conteh, 25, stands in front of his empty kiosk which he said was looted on Wednesday by police who opened fire on a crowd of protesters in the mining town of Bumbuna April 19. A woman was shot and killed and several others were wounded when police opened fire on a crowd protesting wages and working conditions at the British mining company African Minerals on Wednesday, according to witnesses, hospital staff and police officials.
A man has his weekly haircut in the city of Makeni in Sierra Leone, April 20.
A man has his weekly haircut in the city of Makeni in Sierra Leone, April 20.
Kelly Conteh, 27, lies in hospital with a gunshot wound to the head after police opened fire on a crowd of protesters in the mining town of Bumbuna April 19. A woman was shot and killed and several others were wounded when police opened fire on a crowd protesting wages and working conditions at the British mining company African Minerals on Wednesday, according to witnesses, hospital staff and police officials.
Kelly Conteh, 27, lies in hospital with a gunshot wound to the head after police opened fire on a crowd of protesters in the mining town of Bumbuna April 19. A woman was shot and killed and several others were wounded when police opened fire on a crowd protesting wages and working conditions at the British mining company African Minerals on Wednesday, according to witnesses, hospital staff and police officials.
Kadidiatu Swaray, 18, (Left) and her friend Mabinty Bangura, 15, arrive for class at the Every Nation Academy private school in the city of Makeni in Sierra Leone, April 20.
Kadidiatu Swaray, 18, (Left) and her friend Mabinty Bangura, 15, arrive for class at the Every Nation Academy private school in the city of Makeni in Sierra Leone, April 20.
Kadiatu Kauma, 24, sits in hospital with gunshot wounds to her arm, stomach and back after police opened fire on a crowd of protesters in the mining town of Bumbuna April 19. A woman was shot and killed and several others were wounded when police opened fire on a crowd protesting wages and working conditions at the British mining company African Minerals on Wednesday, according to witnesses, hospital staff and police officials.
Kadiatu Kauma, 24, sits in hospital with gunshot wounds to her arm, stomach and back after police opened fire on a crowd of protesters in the mining town of Bumbuna April 19. A woman was shot and killed and several others were wounded when police opened fire on a crowd protesting wages and working conditions at the British mining company African Minerals on Wednesday, according to witnesses, hospital staff and police officials.
A woman uses a net to try and catch fish in a pool of water near the mining town of Bumbuna April 19.
A woman uses a net to try and catch fish in a pool of water near the mining town of Bumbuna April 19.
Two girls selling sweets watch from their makeshift kiosk as other boys and girls their age (not pictured) attend a school in the city of Makeni in Sierra Leone, April 20.
Two girls selling sweets watch from their makeshift kiosk as other boys and girls their age (not pictured) attend a school in the city of Makeni in Sierra Leone, April 20.

A glimpse into life in Sierra Leone, which has been in the news recently for a revolt started by mine workers in Bumbuna, and employees of African Minerals. The rioting left one woman dead and several injured.

The rioting began on Tuesday and went through into Wednesday. The mood calmed down by Thursday, although local people said African Minerals staff had not returned to work.

African Minerals' shares traded fractionally lower at 566 pence in early London dealings.

African Minerals made its first trial shipment of ore from Tonkolili mine in November last year. Shipments from the mine are due to helpSierra Leoneto what the IMF estimates at 35.9 percent growth this year, one of the highest rates in the world.

The rioting began with a protest over pay and conditions, with locals aggrieved by what they said were the higher wages received by expatriates.

Sierra Leone, which will hold presidential elections in November, recently stirred controversy with the purchase of $4.5 million of weaponry for its police force, including heavy machine guns and grenade launchers. – Text and photos by Reuters

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