Sierra Leone's elected President, Ahmed Tejan Kabbah, was restored to power in March 1998 following a coup and a year of rule by a military junta. In late December 1998, rebels captured a string of towns in the north, including the provincial center, Makeni. Intense fighting forced people in eastern parts of Freetown and thousands of other civilians to flee toward the city center. The fighting cut residents off from food and potable water, and telephone and electricity service went out through much of the city. The fighting also forced most expatriate staff of relief organizations to evacuate the city temporarily.
Sporadic fighting continues.
Since the rebel attack on Freetown in early January 1999, an estimated 5,000 people have been killed in the fighting. The refugee flow into Guinea has slowed considerably. On May 18, the rebels and the government signed a cease-fire agreement effective May 24. The agreement includes a guarantee for safe and unhindered access by humanitarian organizations to all people in need. Freetown is calm but tense.