Unsuspecting Sierra Leoneans woke up to an ominous development on May 25, 1997: the country's first democratically-elected president had been ousted from power. However, the coup failed to win support from Nigeria's dictator, the late General Sanni Abacha, who many viewed as the God-father of revolution in Africa. The world also united around the ousted president and demanded the restoration of constitutional order. The defiance of the junta boss, coupled with the unabated looting in Freetown prompted the United States to dispatch 1,000 Marines onboard the USS Kearsarge to evacuate foreign nationals. Violence became the rule of thumb as junta forces carried out incessant attacks on ECOMOG positions, as well as executed anyone suspected of supporting the ousted president. Months of failed diplomacy resulted in a painful economic sanction that was enforced by Nigerian warships, which prompted half the population to seek refuge elsewhere, primarily in Guinea and Liberia, where they were treated like sub-humans. Marwan Khadar witnessed all of the violence and suffering first hand. His escape from his homeland was nothing short of miraculous. In Bloody Democracy, he recounts his harrowing testimony as one who lived through the worst of the rebellion.