What reasons can you propose for the coup's in Ishmael's homeland? Did the arrival of Portugese slave traders, or the later colonization by the British, contribute to Sierra Leone's twenieth century woes?

That's a big question! Power struggles in Africa are simply about that, power. Weather it's a crazy despot, a ruthless military or a corrupt government the results tend to be similar. The Portuguese using the country and its people up until there was nothing left was a factor. Divide and conquer followed by systematic destruction was the Portuguese method of doing business. One can argue that this mentality is adopted long after colonial exit by various groups within the country. The question, however, is far more complex than this forum can offer.