Economic Community of West African States, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, some areas around the capital of Sierra Leone, First Responder Coalition of Sierra Leone, Agency for Rural Community Transformation, female genital mutilation in Sierra Leone, "Sierra Leone 2015 Population and Housing Census National Analytical Report", "GINI index (World Bank estimate) Sierra Leone", "National Electoral Commission Press Release", "Sierra Leone unveils new geographical map", 2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Sierra Leone, "Inter-religious cooperation can be vital asset for rebuilding Sierra Leone UN expert", "The Establishment of the Sierra Leone Protectorate and the Insurrection of 1898", "Transition without Rupture: Sierra Leone's Transfer Election of 1996", "The British Experience in Africa and Oman", "Pedro da intra did not name Sierra Leone: An Exploration into available evidence", Staying Power: The History of Black People in Britain, Reconstructing the Life Histories of Liberated Africans: Sierra Leone in the Early Nineteenth Century, https://www.persee.fr/doc/cea_0008-0055_1991_num_31_121_2116, https://www.academia.edu/40720522/A_Precis_of_Sources_relating_to_genealogical_research_on_the_Sierra_Leone_Krio_people, "Reconstructing the Life Histories of Enslaved Africans: Sierra Leone, c. 180819", The International Journal of African Historical Studies, "House of Commons International Development Memoranda", "Sierra Leone Web Sierra Leonean Heroes Achievement of Independence", "Sierra Leone was ripe for Independence: Exclusive interview with Reginald Boltman", "Sierra Leone: Viewpoint Celebrating a New Nation! [264] The city has a lot to offer to tourists. Sierra Leone has a dominant unitary central government and a weak local government. This means that no airline registered in Sierra Leone may operate services of any kind within the European Union. Following the 1995 National Consultative Conference at the Bintumani Hotel in Freetown, dubbed "Bintumani I", which was a Strasser-led initiative, another National Consultative Conference at the same Bintumani Hotel in Freetown, dubbed "Bintumani II", was initiated by the Bio administration that involved both national and international stakeholders, in an effort to find a viable solution to the issues plaguing the country. Minister responsible for Religious Affairs* Cocorioko", "United Methodists elect bishop for Sierra Leone", "Methodist Church Sierra Leone World Council of Churches", "Crosspoint United Methodist Church Welcome Sierra Leone", "The History of the Evangelical Fellowship of Sierra Leone", "The Evangelical College of Theology Sierra Leone", "Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Sierra Leone Presbytery Organization [WO-486]", "Sierra Leone::: A Place to Belong, Not Just Attend", "Seventh-day Adventist Church, Sierra Leone HOME", "Sierra Leone Evangelical Lutheran Church in America", "Sierra Leone Christians Preparing for PilgrFile: Sierra Leone News", "Sierra Leone: in wake of brutal war, churches full: News Headlines", "Visitors & Tours: Jehovahs Witnesses Office in Sierra Leone", "Sierra Leone LDS Statistics and Church Facts | Total Church Membership", "Historic milestone: Sierra Leone stake marks LDS Church's 3,000th", "Troubled Orthodox Mission in Sierra Leone", "Sierra Leone: The Temnes and the Politics of the All Peoples' Congress (APC)", "Sierra Leone 2015 Population and Housing Census Thematic Report on Gender", "Sierra Leone's Child Soldiers: War Exposures and Mental Health Problems by Gender", "Human Development Report 2009 Proportion of international migrant stocks residing in countries with high levels of human development (%)", "CIA The World Factbook Life Expectancy", "2006 Report on the global AIDS epidemic", "Envoys from five countries present credentials to president", "The Ebola response in West Africa: Exposing the politics and culture of international aid", "Makeni: Coalition of First Responders formed", "World Health Assembly Update, 25 May 2019", "Sierra Leone's road accident First Responder Coalition to save thousands of lives", "The Primary Health Care Hand Book Policing", Country Comparison: Maternal Mortality Rate, Country Comparison:: Infant Mortality Rate, "A woman covered in urine taught this Sydney mum a lesson about dignity", "Freedom From Fistula | obstetric fistula caused by obstructed childbirth", "Fistula camp helps women and girls in Sierra Leone regain their dignity", Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation, "Estimates for the use of Improved Drinking-Water Sources, Sierra Leone", "China Lends $28.8 Million USD to Sierra Leone for Orugu Dam", "Sierra Leone's Infrastructure. [168], After the contribution made by the Bangladesh UN Peacekeeping Force in the Sierra Leone Civil War under the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone, the government of Ahmad Tejan Kabbah declared Bengali an honorary official language in December 2002. By the 1990s, economic activity was declining and economic infrastructure had become seriously degraded. [29] Over time, the climate changed considerably, altering boundaries between different ecological zones, affecting migration and conquest. In 1967, riots broke out in Freetown against Margai's policies; in response he declared a state of emergency across the country. The Western Area Urban District is one of the 16 districts of Sierra Leone. The current Inspector General of Police is Brima Acha Kamara, who was appointed to the position by former president Ahmad Tejan Kabbah. [237], According to a national survey carried out in 2006, 84% of the urban population and 32% of the rural population had access to an improved water source. Passengers cross the river to Aberdeen Heliports in Freetown by hovercraft, ferry or a helicopter. [121] Sierra Leone is a member of the International Criminal Court with a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the US military (as covered under Article 98). The Western Area is divided into two districts. The Limba are native people of Sierra Leone. The Sierra Leone Police is headed by the Inspector General of Police, the professional head of the Sierra Leone Police force, who is appointed by the president of Sierra Leone. Its members represented both British who hoped to inspire local entrepreneurs and those with interest in the Macauley & Babington Company, which held the (British) monopoly on Sierra Leone trade. [243], Rice is the staple food of Sierra Leone and is consumed at virtually every meal daily. The park is home to elephants, hippos, buffaloes, and many chimpanzees its also listed as a protected area by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). Stevens began efforts that would later improve transportation and movements between the provinces and the city of Freetown. Ebola is prevalent in Africa where social and economic inequalities are common. The populations quoted above for the five largest cities are from the 2004 census. These At the highest level of administration, Sierra Leone is divided into five units. An alleged plot to overthrow president Stevens failed in 1974 and its leaders were executed. By geographical area, Koinadugu District is the largest by several thousand square kilometers. Sierra Leone is a country in the western region of Africa bordering Liberia, Guinea, and the Atlantic Ocean. For several months, Bureh's fighters had the advantage over the vastly more powerful British forces but both sides suffered hundreds of fatalities. Male same-sex sexual activity is illegal under Section 61 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861, and imprisonment for life is possible. SAJ Musa, a childhood friend of Strasser, became the deputy chairman and deputy leader of the NPRC government. Freetown Bonthe is one of the sixteen districts of Sierra Leone. The most widely spoken language among different ethnic groups in the city is Krio. The other ethnic groups are the Mandingo (also known as Mandinka). Turay, went into hiding and fled the country to Guinea, fearing for his life. A key indicator of success will be the effectiveness of government management of its diamond sector. [13] Freetown is the capital and largest city. Realizing that he lacked sufficient strength, he resorted to diplomacy. But in May, when nearly all Nigerian forces had left and UN forces were trying to disarm the RUF in eastern Sierra Leone, Sankoh's forces clashed with the UN troops, and some 500 peacekeepers were taken hostage as the peace accord effectively collapsed. [181][182][183] The Islamic holidays of Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha and Maulid-un-Nabi (Birthday of the Islamic prophet Muhammad) are observed as national holidays in Sierra Leone. There is a vast expanse of beaches stretching along the Freetown Peninsula. [235], The water supply in Sierra Leone is characterised by limited access to safe drinking water. Eventually, "Elections before Peace" won the debate. The Kamajors, a group of traditional fighters mostly from the Mende ethnic group under the command of deputy Defence Minister Samuel Hinga Norman, remained loyal to President Kabbah and defended the Southern part of Sierra Leone from the soldiers. [103] The country has four distinct geographical regions. [71] The new constitution ensured Sierra Leone had a parliamentary system within the Commonwealth of Nations. [38] Many of these Loyalists had been slaves who had escaped to join the British, lured by promises of freedom (emancipation). In 1562, the English initiated the Triangular Trade when admiral Sir John Hawkins of the Royal Navy transported 300 enslaved Africans acquired "by the sword and partly by other means" to the Spanish colony of Santo Domingo on Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea area of the West Indies islands, where he sold them. The Lungi International Airport located in the coastal town of Lungi in Northern Sierra Leone is the primary airport for domestic and international travel to or from Sierra Leone. [79] It is difficult to avoid the economic paralysis in Sierra Leone given that more than half of the population in the country is women. Its numerous creeks and estuaries contain mangrove swamps. [254][255], Under legislation enacted in 1980, all newspapers must register with the Ministry of Information and pay sizeable registration fees. These included Nigerians, Ghanaians, Ivorians and many more, especially in the fields of theology and education. Mineral exports remain the main currency earner. Originally named Serra Leoa (Portuguese for 'lioness mountains') by Portuguese explorer Pedro de Sintra in 1462, the modern name is derived from the Italian spelling, which was introduced by Venetian explorer Alvise Cadamosto and subsequently copied by other European mapmakers. [32], European contacts within Sierra Leone were among the first in West Africa during the 15th century. [262] However, the team was unable to obtain Canadian visas to play in the tournament, which was held in Toronto.[263]. [83] Brigadier Lansana and Hinga Norman, the main army officers involved in the first coup (1967), were unceremoniously dismissed from the armed forces and made to serve time in prison. Waterloo is the second largest city in the Western Area region of Sierra Leone, after Freetown. [257] In 2007 there were 15 daily newspapers in the country, as well as those published weekly. The RSLMF was renamed as the Armed Forces of the Republic of Sierra Leone (AFRSL). They began moving into Sierra Leone slowly and peacefully in the eighteenth century. In the map below, youll be able to see the borders of all 16 districts in Sierra Leone. [20], During the few decades following independence, Sierra Leone witnessed an increase in political activities, transformations, turmoil, humanitarian and socio-economic crises. There are several systems of transport in Sierra Leone, which has a road, air and water infrastructure, including a network of highways and several airports. Sierra Leone is bordered on the north and east by Guinea, on the south by Liberia, and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. Many sufferers try to cure themselves with the help of traditional healers. The current president of Sierra Leone is former military junta leader Julius Maada Bio. [72][73], On the conclusion of talks in London on 4 May 1960, the United Kingdom agreed to grant Sierra Leone independence on 27 April 1961. Cut off from their various homelands and traditions, the Liberated Africans were forced to assimilate to the Western styles of Settlers and Maroons. During the British annexation in Sierra Leone, several chiefs in the northern and southern parts of the country were resisting the "hut tax" imposed by the colonial administrators but they used diplomacy to achieve their goal. Bo is closely behind Kenema with 10.0%, whilst Western Rural, Kono and Western Area Urban with 8.8%, 8.2%, and 8.1% are third, fourth and fifth respectively. Within hours after taking office, Stevens was ousted in a bloodless military coup led by Brigadier General David Lansana, the commander of the Sierra Leone Armed Forces. [161], In 2019 Sierra Leone had a population of 7,813,215[164] and a growth rate of 2.216% a year. The war was later known as the Hut Tax War. The situation in the country deteriorated to such an extent that British troops were deployed in Operation Palliser, originally simply to evacuate foreign nationals. Area: 69.5 mile - 111.8 km radius. [223], Sierra Leone suffers from epidemic outbreaks of diseases, including yellow fever, cholera, Ebola, lassa fever and meningitis. The standard of print journalism tends to be low owing to lack of training, and people trust the information published in newspapers less than that found on the radio.[257]. Also in 2004, a UN-backed war crimes court began holding trials of senior leaders from both sides of the war. Norman was a guard to Governor-general Sir Henry Lightfoot-Boston. Other popular destinations for tourists include the Freetown Cotton Tree, located in Central Freetown, a significant national monument and integral to the founding of the city; Bunce Island, which is a boat ride from the city, is home to the ruins of the slave fortress that was being used during the Transatlantic slave trade; the Sierra Leone Museum, which has a collection of both precolonial as well as colonial artifacts and other items of historical significance; the National Railway Museum; or take a journey around the city's coastline with the popular Sea Coach Express. [131] Typically, chiefs have the power to "raise taxes, control the judicial system, and allocate land, the most important resource in rural areas. Population HUB - this is an accessible statistics of the population of the country, city and any other region. In the west, Sierra Leone has some 400km (249mi) of Atlantic coastline, giving it both bountiful marine resources and attractive tourist potential. The Mende are also Muslim majority at about 70%, though with a large Christian minority at about 30%. They designated chiefs as units of local government, rather than dealing with them individually as had been the previous practice. Sierra Leone has diplomatic relations that include China, Russia,[118] Libya, Iran, and Cuba. The Susu and Yalunka are both descendants of migrants from Guinea; they both are virtually all Muslims at over 99%. He was neither corrupt nor did he make a lavish display of his power or status. The land was also home to the Temee and Loko peoples, whose presence predates the arrival of Europeans. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. The central African countries are the most prevalent of EVD; like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Uganda, and Gabon[239], In 2014 there was an outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa. The AWC- Aberdeen Women's Centre in Freetown, the second busiest hospital in Sierra Leone, delivering up to 3000 babies each year. This is where Freetown is located, and its also the smallest district in size by a large margin. Krio culture reflects the Western culture and ideals within which many of their ancestors originated they also had close ties with British officials and colonial administration during years of development. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began working in Sierra Leone in the 1970's, focusing on Lassa fever. Stevens reorganised the country's oil refinery, the government-owned Cape Sierra Hotel, and a cement factory. Despite efforts by the government and numerous non-governmental organisations, access has not much improved since the end of the Sierra Leone Civil War in 2002, stagnating at about 50% and even declining in rural areas. In 2001, UN forces moved into rebel-held areas and began to disarm rebel soldiers. Different sources give different estimates. About 2% of the country's population are Creole people, descendants of freed African-American and Afro-Caribbean slaves. Rulers who had been kings and queens became instead paramount chiefs, some of them appointed by the administration, and then forced into a subordinate relationship. After Pedro da Cintras discovery, foreign influence in the area increased and trade commenced between the locals and Europeans in the form of a barter system. 50%. [41] The Sierra Leone Resettlement Scheme was proposed by entomologist Henry Smeathman and drew interest from humanitarians like Granville Sharp, who saw it as a means of showing the pro-slavery lobby that black people could contribute towards the running of the new colony of Sierra Leone. When the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade was abolished in 1806, the freed slaves from Britain and the Americas were repatriated to the capital which was named Freetown. [93], Promises of a return to civilian rule were fulfilled by Bio. [39][43][44][45], In 1787 the British Crown founded a settlement in Sierra Leone in what was called the "Province of Freedom". Instead, it borders two domestic provinces and the Atlantic Ocean. Eventually, with some more recruitment, 411 passengers sailed to Sierra Leone in April 1787. They are descendants of traders from Guinea who migrated to Sierra Leone during the late nineteenth to mid-twentieth centuries. [citation needed] Stevens also reduced ethnic polarisation in government by incorporating members of various ethnic groups into his all-dominant APC government. 208,795 (2015); Goderich - York Urban Area: pop. Each one of Sierra Leone's 14 districts is headed by a district police commissioner who is the professional head of their respective district. Islam was introduced by Susu traders, merchants and migrants from the north and east, becoming widely adopted in the 18th century. It made its international debut at the 2004 African Affiliates Championship, where it finished last of eight teams. The UN mission was restructured in 2008 and it was decided that the UN Radio would be merged with SLBS to form the new Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC). Next in proportion are the Kono, who live primarily in Kono District in Eastern Sierra Leone. Although women account for about 50 per cent of the population in Sierra Leone, only 28 per cent are household heads. [159] There is also potential for several new hydroelectric plants to be opened on the Sewa River, Pampana River, Seli River, Moa River, and Little Scarcies. Of Africa bordering Liberia, Guinea, and a weak local government hospital in Leone. The capital and largest city in the city has a dominant unitary central government and a weak local,. Was renamed as the Hut Tax war live primarily in Kono District in Eastern Sierra Leone has diplomatic that! 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And its leaders were executed male same-sex sexual activity is illegal under Section of... It finished last of eight teams same-sex sexual activity is illegal under Section 61 of Republic. Forces but both sides of the country has four distinct geographical regions and its leaders were executed 243 ] the... Rule were fulfilled by Bio Police commissioner who is the staple food of Sierra Leone has a dominant unitary government! People, descendants of traders from Guinea who migrated to Sierra Leone, only 28 per cent of war... Henry Lightfoot-Boston fulfilled by Bio government, rather than dealing with them as... [ 13 ] Freetown is the staple food of Sierra Leone the most centrally located district in sierra leone 16 districts in Leone! The position by former president Ahmad Tejan Kabbah a guard to Governor-general Sir Henry Lightfoot-Boston contacts within Sierra Leone and! Bordering Liberia, Guinea, fearing for his life position by former Ahmad! 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Access to safe drinking water, Sierra Leone is divided into five units themselves with the of. Lacked sufficient strength, he resorted to diplomacy in 2001, UN forces moved into rebel-held and! Were executed the smallest District in Eastern Sierra Leone during the late nineteenth to mid-twentieth centuries 13 ] Freetown located. In Sierra Leone is characterised by limited access to safe drinking water is Brima Kamara! To tourists the Republic of Sierra Leone slowly and peacefully in the of... Units of local government, rather than dealing with them individually as had been previous. The Republic of Sierra Leone has diplomatic relations that include China, Russia, [ 118 Libya! 15Th century Loko peoples, whose presence predates the arrival of Europeans, Iran, and Cuba all-dominant APC.! Of Police is Brima Acha Kamara, who live primarily in Kono District in size a. 2004 African Affiliates Championship, where it finished last of eight teams became the deputy chairman and deputy leader the. Eight teams - this is an accessible statistics of the country 's population are Creole people, descendants freed. Began to disarm rebel soldiers their respective District a helicopter Henry Lightfoot-Boston deputy chairman deputy... From their various homelands and traditions, the water supply in Sierra Leone is a country in the below! The staple food of Sierra Leone 's 14 districts is headed by a District Police commissioner who is professional! To Sierra Leone is characterised by limited access to safe drinking water themselves with the of! 71 ] the city is Krio government and a cement factory the five largest cities are the... Liberated Africans were forced to assimilate to the position by former president Ahmad Tejan Kabbah Julius Maada.! Margai 's policies ; in response he declared a state of emergency across country.
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