DECENTRALIZATION, LOCAL GOVERNANCE AND CENTER-PERIPHERY CONFLICT IN SIERRA-LEONE

Issues of centralization-decentralization and centre-periphery resourc e distribution are frequent administrative and political concerns whic h can have, upon occasion, very profound consequences for the stabilit y of a society. An analysis of recent events in Sierra Leone demonstra tes their significance. On 25 May, 1997 the country's first democratic ally elected government in almost 30 years was overthrown after little more than a year in office by a group of rebellious military officers . Most commentators have attributed this turn of events simply to mili tary disgruntlement. In fact, a careful analysis demonstrates that the central government's commitment to decentralization and the strengthe ning of local governance exacerbated the centre-periphery conflict iss ues that have plagued the country since its independence and thus were the real underlying causal factors. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.