In 1991, the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) began a rebellion against "a corrupt government." The RUF was led by Corporal Foday Sankoh. In 1996, Ahmad Tejan Kabbah was elected president in March, 1996. This was the country's first reasonably fair election in thirty years. A peace treaty was signed with the rebels in November, 1996. But Sankoh was arrested in in March 1997 for arms trafficking, and the rebels began fighting again. In May 1997, the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), led by Major Johnny Paul Koroma overthrew the elected government in May 1997. This spurred neighboring countries to send in a (mainly Nigerian) peace keeping force (ECOMOG) in February 1998 and restored the elected government. But two thirds of the army remained loyal to AFRC and the fighting continued. The RUF then joined with the AFRC to fight ECOMOG and the government Kamajor militia. The rebels became particularly nasty with the civilians, chopping off limbs and other body parts to spread terror.