Sierra Leone had been governed since 1968 by the All People's Congress, which, after a constitutional referendum in 1978 suspected of being rigged,[1] had become the sole legal party.

[3] In March 1991, the country was plunged into the Sierra Leone Civil War, pitting the government against the invading Revolutionary United Front, under the command of Foday Sankoh.

[3] Front-line government soldiers were poorly supplied and fed,[2][3] and some complained they had not been paid for three months.

[4] Captain Strasser witnessed the deplorable conditions firsthand, being assigned to a unit fighting the rebels.

[4] The State House was briefly recovered by loyal troops, but soon fell back into the mutineers' hands.