International Deathmatch

Sierra Leone (Africa) vs Luxembourg (Europe)

The world's poorest takes on the world's richest. (By GDP per capita.) No international deathmatch has had the odds stacked like this since USA v Iraq.  

In the red corner - Sierra Leone

The Bulom, probably the earliest inhabitants, were joined by Krim and Gola peoples by the 14th century and by the Mende and Temne in the 15th century. In the mid-15th century Portuguese traders visited the coast; a fort was established at what is now Freetown in 1495. There were British trading posts on Bunce and York Islands in the 17th century when the country was an important source of ivory and slaves.

Abolitionists founded Freetown in 1787 as a refuge for freed slaves, but after Britain abolished the slave trade in 1807 the British government took over the settlement as a naval base; the colony, formerly run by the Sierra Leone Company, became a crown colony. The hinterland became a British protectorate in 1896. Indigenous resistance was crushed by the British in the 1898 Hut-Tax War.

In response to post-World War II nationalism, Britain introduced limited self-government and an elected Assembly in 1951, won by Milton Margai's Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP). An emerging alliance between the SLPP's supporters, mainly Mende southerners, and the minority creole elite that dominated the professions and civil service kept Margai in office as prime minister from 1958 and as the first leader of independent Sierra Leone after independence (27 Apr. 1961). The SLPP won the May 1962 elections but Milton Margai died in Apr. 1964 and his successor, his half-brother Albert, alienated the creoles by his Africanisation policies. The opposition All-People's Congress (APC), led by Siaka Stevens and supported mainly by Temne northerners, won the Mar. 1967 elections. The army seized power before he could take office. The National Reformation Council (NRC) was itself overthrown by NCOs in Apr. 1968 and civilian rule was subsequently restored with Siaka Stevens as PM.

Brig. John Bangura tried to overthrow Stevens' leftist government in Mar. 1971 but the mutiny was put down with the aid of Guinea. Sierra Leone became a republic in Apr. 1971, with Stevens as executive president. Discontent increased as the economic situation deteriorated. In Feb. 1977 there was widespread rioting. The government declared a state of emergency and called a general election, which returned the APC with a reduced majority. Pres. Stevens put forward a new constitution providing for a one-party state, arguing that this was the only means of preventing ethnic factionalism. It was approved by a referendum in June 1978. However, as the economic situation continued to deteriorate and evidence of corruption was revealed, the government declared a state of emergency in Aug. 1981 to prevent a general strike. Elections in May 1982 were again marred by violence (at least 50 killed) and there was another wave of demonstrations and strikes in 1984-85.

Since 1991, civil war between the government and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people (well over one-third of the population), many of whom are now refugees in neighboring countries. After several setbacks, the end to the 11-year conflict in Sierra Leone may finally be near at hand. With the support of the UN peacekeeping force and contributions from the World Bank and international community, demobilization and disarmament of the RUF and Civil Defense Forces (CDF) combatants has been completed. National elections were held in May 2002 and the government continues to slowly reestablish its authority.

In the blue corner - Luxembourg

Settled by the Franks in the mid-5th century AD, Luxembourg became an autonomous county within the Holy Roman Empire in 963 and rose to prominence when its ruler was elected Emperor Henry VII in 1308. Created a duchy in 1354, it passed under French Burgundian rule in 1443 before becoming part of the Habsburg Empire in 1482. On the abdication of Emperor Charles V in 1555, it became part of the Spanish-ruled Low Countries, which it remained, except for a period of French rule (1684-97), until the end of the War of the Spanish Succession (1702-13/14), when it passed to the Austrian Habsburgs. In 1795 Luxembourg was annexed to revolutionary France, but at the 1815 Congress of Vienna it became a grand duchy within the new United Kingdom of the Netherlands (which included Belgium) and was obliged to accept a Prussian garrison as a check against France. On Belgium's secession from the Netherlands (1830), the greater part of Luxembourg went with it (and today forms the Belgian province of that name). The remainder won autonomy in 1848 and Prussian troops were withdrawn in 1867.

The link with the Netherlands was finally severed in 1890, when the accession of a female to the Dutch throne impelled Luxembourg, where Salic Law applied, to choose a male sovereign from the House of Nassau. Salic Law was eventually revoked in 1912 to allow the accession of Grand Duchess Marie-Adelaide, whose sympathies for German forces occupying Luxembourg during World War I attracted much criticism nationally and abroad. Following an abortive republican coup attempt in early 1919, French pressure obliged Marie-Adelaide to abdicate in favour of her sister Charlotte. Under the 1919 Versailles Treaty, Luxembourg was declared perpetually free of all ties with Germany, and in 1922 the Belgium-Luxembourg economic union was formed. Successive inter-war governments were dominated by the Christian Social Party (CSV), although in 1937 the Social Democrats joined a coalition which enacted modern social legislation. During World War II Luxembourg was again overrun by the Germans (1940) and subsequently annexed to the Third Reich (1942). Grand Duchess Charlotte and her ministers escaped to London. Her son, Prince Jean, was one of the first Allied soldiers to enter liberated Luxembourg in 1944.

In 1958, Luxembourg entered into the Benelux Customs Union and joined NATO the following year. In 1957, it became one of the six founding countries of the European Economic Community and in 1999 it joined the euro currency area. Luxembourg's leaders are vigorous supporters for the rights of small states, and oppose any moves that might weaken their influence with the expanding EU.

Round One - Population

Luxembourg's population - about the size of the small town - can enjoy stability and tranquillity for all of their 77.66 years. Sierra Leonines have a much shorter time, and they certainly put it to good use making children.

Luxembourg may be a sleepy euro-village compared to the bustle (and gunfire) of Sierra Leone, but I'd still rather live there.

The round goes to Luxembourg.

Round Two - Economy

Sierra Leone has substantial resources. However, the economic and social infrastructure is not well developed, hampered by serious social disorders.

Luxembourg's financial sector (with secrecy laws similar to Switzerland) now accounts for about 22% of GDP - more than compensating for the decline of the steel-dominated industrial sector.

With a GDP-per-capita difference in the factor of 100, the round goes to Luxembourg. 

Round Three - Military

Although Luxembourg spends ten times more on its military, (probably just for wages alone) it's still outnumbered 6:1 by Sierra Leone.

The round goes to Sierra Leone

War! Huh! What is it good for?

Putting on my Jerry Springer hat, what have we learned here, boys and girls?

1. Where is globalisation when you need it? If - as alleged - global trade flowed both ways, then the differences between rich and poor would be much smaller. That is anything but apparent here. A human in Europe worth 100 times one in Africa is ridiculous.
2. Make love ... Luxembourg has welcomed everyone with open arms. Prussian army, come on in. NATO bases, the water's fine. There's probably some Nazi gold hidden in bank vaults under the Buurgsplaatz. But that's just the rewards for good ol' European hospitality. Hell, the Luxies are not above letting other small states join the EU - if only to dilute the power of the bigger boys.
3. Not war ... Sierra Leone has seen everything, slavery, colonialism, and civil war for most of its recent history. Could it be related to its poverty? Look where pacifism got Luxembourg - control of the EU. Look what's happened to Wall Street since Iraq. Where is the love? We'd better find it quick, because it's stopping us getting at the diamonds.

Luxembourg wins. (Unless Sierra Leone attacks, then they'll probably kill a few citizens before Luxembourg welcomes them into the EU. In which case, everybody wins.)

Sources:

• 2003 CIA World Factbook - www.cia.gov
• SBS World Guide - www.theworldnews.com.au/Worldguide/

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