Sierra Leone: ripe for elections?

This briefing paper, which continues recent ICG reporting on Sierra Leone's efforts to break out of a cycle of violence that resulted in the death of at least 50,000 persons and destabilized a considerable portion of West Africa, examines the assumptions behind the confidence of the international community that Sierra Leone has achieved peace. It finds that it is far too early to declare the danger over, as the security situation is still shaky, and the electoral course itself is fraught with uncertainty.