An important thing to keep in mind with post-colonial states in Africa is that the colonial powers tend to still be quite involved. In Sierra Leone, that's the British. In Mali, it's the French. You can see the direct intervention of both nations' militaries in recent times. They continue to have operatives and intelligence operations in these places. Often, these operatives are not necessarily acting on an official decree from the Queen, but also enterprising in their own regards.
The other side of this is that they also are involved in the politics of who does what and where. That would include, particularly, the operations of a mercenary outfit. A lot of money and influence would exchange hands, in terms of favors, access, and just in general how easy it is to get anything done whatsoever.
I was in SL in 2009 or so. Still a lot of fascinating (and some gruesome) remnants from the war there, including EO's Hind helicopter rusting at the end of the runway.
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