Sierra Leone | Newsnight

Duration: 13'14''

Synopsis

A decade ago Britain sent troops to Sierra Leone to intervene in the country's brutal civil war. That intervention was decisive - the rebel forces were beaten and the conflict ended. But, as Allan Little has found, Sierra Leoneans now want Britain to help lift them out of poverty.

Further Information

More clips from Newsnight

2014 Ukranian Revolution | Newsnight

2014 Ukranian Revolution | Newsnight

BBC Two | 2014 | 6'36''

Amongst political turmoil ahead of the 2010 elections, Russian-backed Viktor Yanukovych made a come-back, and was elected as President o...

Alexander Litvinenko's Murder: The Inside Story | Newsnight

Alexander Litvinenko's Murder: The Inside Story | Newsnight

BBC Two | 2015 | 20'28''

The inside story of the mysterious poisoning of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko in 2006.

Altruism | Newsnight

Altruism | Newsnight

BBC Two | 2014 | 2'14''

A new study by UCL has made some interesting findings about altruism.

Can Rachel Reeves Grow the Economy? | Newsnight

Can Rachel Reeves Grow the Economy? | Newsnight

BBC Two | 2025 | 32'17''

The chancellor says growth will drive every government policy. But can she deliver? And president Trump announces he'll house...

Desertification | Newsnight

Desertification | Newsnight

BBC Two | 2017 | 8'36''

Featuring the wall of green land preventing desertification in sub-Saharan Africa.

Disability benefits cut again | Newsnight

Disability benefits cut again | Newsnight

BBC Two | 2025 | 32'14''

The Chancellor had to find money in the Spring Statement, and she found it in the welfare budget. Victoria Derbyshire interviews Da...

Economic factors affecting businesses | Newsnight

Economic factors affecting businesses | Newsnight

BBC Two | 2025 | 5'20''

The impacts of National insurance increases, increases in public spending and increased borrowing by the government. The li...

Fall of the Berlin Wall | Newsnight

Fall of the Berlin Wall | Newsnight

BBC One | 1989 | 22'40''

As the Berlin Wall starts to be taken apart as rapidly as it arose, Peter Snow and Olenka Frenkiel report from the city on how people on ...

Global Tarrifs | Newsnight

Global Tarrifs | Newsnight

BBC Two | 2025 | 5'49''

How Trumps trade tariffs affect the rest of the world and the power he holds.

Is the UK Economy in Trouble? | Newsnight

Is the UK Economy in Trouble? | Newsnight

BBC Two | 2025 | 32'16''

With UK borrowing costs the highest since 2008, how much trouble is chancellor Rachel Reeves and the UK economy in? Plus LA wildfir...

Labour's Prison Plan | Newsnight

Labour's Prison Plan | Newsnight

BBC Two | 2024 | 32'14''

The government unveils its plan for prisons, promising to solve overcrowding and 'keep our streets safe' by building thousands of new cells....

Tax Rises to Come? | Newsnight

Tax Rises to Come? | Newsnight

BBC Two | 2025 | 30'02''

The chancellor lays the ground for tax rises in what could be a painful Budget for voters, will her fellow Labour MPs back her? Plus, tomorrow...

The beginning of 3D Printing | Newsnight

The beginning of 3D Printing | Newsnight

BBC Two | 2012 | 7'00''

The beginning of commercially available 3D printers.

The Irish Troubles | Newsnight

The Irish Troubles | Newsnight

BBC Two | 1981 | 47'31''

John Tusa presents the programme from Belfast in the wake of the death of IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands (MP). Brian Walker reports on the ret...

Trump Fights Back on Tariffs | Newsnight

Trump Fights Back on Tariffs | Newsnight

BBC Two | 2025 | 30'01''

The US president hits back as the appeal court presses pause on the judges' decision to halt his tariff plan. With Paddy O'Connell.

Weaponising Ukrainian grain exports | Newsnight

Weaponising Ukrainian grain exports | Newsnight

BBC Two | 2022 | 1'55''

Executive Vice President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovkis explains why he thinks Russia is weaponising Ukrainian ...

Young people and social media | Newsnight

Young people and social media | Newsnight

BBC Two | 2018 | 4'27''

Is social media harming children? Plus companies that boost their value with blockchain buzzwords, and do party members have too mu...

More resources about Aid and trade

Episode 4 | Blood, Sweat and T-Shirts

Episode 4 | Blood, Sweat and T-Shirts

BBC Three | 2008 | 56'36''

Six young fashion lovers visit India to learn how the clothes they wear are manufactured. The group are put to work in the backstreet f...

Episode 1 | Blood, Sweat and T-Shirts

Episode 1 | Blood, Sweat and T-Shirts

BBC Three | 2008 | 56'58''

Six young fashion lovers swap shopping for the factories and backstreet workshops of India to learn how the clothes they wear are manuf...

Episode 3 | Blood, Sweat and T-Shirts

Episode 3 | Blood, Sweat and T-Shirts

BBC Three | 2008 | 56'54''

Six young fashion lovers visit India to learn how the clothes they wear are manufactured. They join the thousands of migrant labourers ...

03: Coffee | Blood, Sweat and Luxuries

03: Coffee | Blood, Sweat and Luxuries

BBC Three | 2010 | 57'05''

Young British consumers work alongside luxury goods makers in Africa and Asia. The Brits travel south to work on the Ethiopian coffee ...

Episode 2 | Blood, Sweat and T-Shirts

Episode 2 | Blood, Sweat and T-Shirts

BBC Three | 2008 | 56'38''

Six young fashion lovers visit India to learn how the clothes they wear are manufactured. In Delhi, they must live and work alongside t...

05: Technology | Blood, Sweat and Luxuries

05: Technology | Blood, Sweat and Luxuries

BBC Three | 2010 | 57'10''

Young British consumers work alongside luxury goods makers in Africa and Asia. In the Philippines they join electronics workers fo...

The Trouble with Aid

The Trouble with Aid

BBC Four | 2012 | 1'58'56''

Documentary which tells the story of what really happened during the major humanitarian disasters of the last 50 years, from the Biafran War to Ethiopia...

01: Gems | Blood, Sweat and Luxuries

01: Gems | Blood, Sweat and Luxuries

BBC Three | 2010 | 57'31''

Six British consumers work alongside luxury goods makers in Africa and Asia. In Madagascar, James, Alexandria and Lucy learn where gems ...

Clothes to Die For | This World

Clothes to Die For | This World

BBC Two | 2014 | 58'47''

Documentary about survivors of the 2013 collapse of the Rana Plaza, an eight-storey commerical building in Bangladesh, and the safety of the ...

S02E01: Trainers | Show Me What You're Made Of

S02E01: Trainers | Show Me What You're Made Of

CBBC | 2012 | 28'09''

They kick off their incredible trip by working in a trainers factory in Malaysia.

S01E02: Clothes | Show Me What You're Made Of

S01E02: Clothes | Show Me What You're Made Of

CBBC | 2011 | 28'11''

Stacey Dooley takes the kids to their second job in Indonesia, in a vast, high-tech clothing factory.

02: Give Us the Money | Why Poverty?

02: Give Us the Money | Why Poverty?

BBC Four | 2012 | 58'34''

Documentary, using archive footage and interviews with key players, which looks at 30 years of Bob Geldof and Bono's campaign against po...

03: Stealing Africa | Why Poverty?

03: Stealing Africa | Why Poverty?

BBC Four | 2012 | 58'40''

With reference to Zambian copper mines, Christoffer Guldbrandsen investigates the dark heart of the tax system employed by multi-nationals...

S01E01: Toys | Show Me What You're Made Of

S01E01: Toys | Show Me What You're Made Of

CBBC | 2011 | 28'33''

The kids are put to the test in one of Indonesia's biggest toy factories, stuffing toy pigs.

S01E03: Jewellery | Show Me What You're Made Of

S01E03: Jewellery | Show Me What You're Made Of

CBBC | 2011 | 27'49''

The kids learn to make the sort of jewellery for sale on British high streets.

S02E02: Cosmetics | Show Me What You're Made Of

S02E02: Cosmetics | Show Me What You're Made Of

CBBC | 2012 | 28'11''

The kids face two tough days working in a huge international cosmetics factory in Thailand.

S02E03: Jeans | Show Me What You're Made Of

S02E03: Jeans | Show Me What You're Made Of

CBBC | 2012 | 27'45''

The kids have a go at making jeans in a Bangkok factory.

Coffee Is The Gold Of The Future | Commodities

Coffee Is The Gold Of The Future | Commodities

Channel 4 | 1986 | 51'25''

With an export value of some $15 billion a year coffee is the 2nd most valuable commodity after oil, providing ten countries, ...

S01E04: Electronics | Show Me What You're Made Of

S01E04: Electronics | Show Me What You're Made Of

CBBC | 2011 | 28'10''

The kids work in a jaw-dropping electronics factory in Manila.