Crossword Genius

Sierra Leone, troubled but without the extremes previously (7,2)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

earlier on

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'previously' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

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(Other definitions for earlier on that I've seen before include "quite recently" , "Previously" , "some time ago" , "in the past?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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