The coup on May 25, 1997, was a significant turning point in Sierra Leone's ongoing civil strife. Major Johnny Paul Koroma, leading a faction of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), orchestrated the coup against President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, who had been in office since 1996. Kabbah's presidency followed a period of violent clashes highlighted by the decade-long civil war that swept across Sierra Leone, primarily fueled by competing interests in diamonds and the disenfranchisement of various groups. The military action was prompted by a sense of hopelessness among soldiers regarding Kabbah’s ability to manage the deteriorating situation, which had led to economic hardship and widespread violence.Koroma's forces quickly captured control of Freetown, the capital, and established a new regime. The coup was characterized by its speed and the relatively low resistance from government forces, indicative of the chaotic state of governance in the country. Following the coup, the AFRC allied with the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), a rebel group notorious for its brutal tactics, to strengthen its power. This alliance marked a shift in the dynamics of the civil conflict, leading to further violence and desperation among civilians.International responses to the coup varied, with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) condemning the overthrow and seeking to restore Kabbah’s leadership through diplomatic means. However, the lack of immediate military intervention allowed the new regime to consolidate its control, thereby setting the stage for a prolonged period of fear, human rights abuses, and instability within Sierra Leone.