The Sierra Leone Civil War lasted from 1991 to 2002, primarily involving the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and the government of Sierra Leone. The conflict began when the RUF, seeking to overthrow the government, launched an insurgency that led to widespread violence, human rights abuses, and the use of child soldiers. The war resulted in the deaths of an estimated 50,000 people and displaced over two million. International intervention, including a United Nations peacekeeping mission, helped to restore peace. The conflict officially ended with the signing of the Lomé Peace Agreement in 1999, although violence continued until 2002.