The violent conflict in the West African state of Guinea-Bissau which began on 7 June 1998 has generated an estimated 300, 000 internally displaced people and some 13, 000 refugees, out of a population of one million. The two opposing sides in the conflict, a faction of the armed forces loyal to former Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Brigadier Asumane Mané and troops loyal to the government, as well Senegalese troops assisting the Guinea-Bissau Government, have committed violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.