[22][23], About 18 ethnic groups inhabit Sierra Leone; the two largest and most influential ones are the Temne and Mende peoples. . Sierra Leone developed as the educational centre of British West Africa. The Oku are virtually all Muslims at about 99%. Headquarters district formed from coastal sections of Karene and Ronietta. He also endeavoured to change Sierra Leone from a democracy to a one-party state. 28,813 (2015). [citation needed] Stevens also reduced ethnic polarisation in government by incorporating members of various ethnic groups into his all-dominant APC government. [210], Women face discrimination when it comes to obtaining financial, social, and cultural help to start a business. [71] In 1953, Sierra Leone was granted local ministerial powers and Margai was elected Chief Minister of Sierra Leone. [124] Brigadier General Alfred Nelson-Williams who was appointed by president Koroma succeeded the retired Major General Edward Sam M'boma on 12 September 2008 as the Chief of Defence Staff of the Military.[125]. Oftentimes the documentation would be overwhelmingly subjective and would result in inaccurate entries, making them difficult to track. Association football is by far the most popular sport in Sierra Leone. Radio is the most popular and most-trusted media in Sierra Leone, with 85% of people having access to a radio and 72% of people in the country listening to the radio daily. [82], Stevens had Bangura arrested in 1970 and charged with conspiracy and treason. The district has the highest percentage, a total of 10.2%, making it the most populated in the country. Margai appointed many non-Creoles to the country's civil service in Freetown, in an overall diversification of the civil service in the capital, which had been dominated by members of the Creole ethnic group. Statistics Sierra Leone in its report said the country started recording its population in 1963, then numbering two million one hundred and eighty thousand, three hundred and fifty-five (2,180,355). Sierra Leone is officially a secular state. Sierra Leone is a West African country near the Atlantic Ocean. Freetown is Sierra Leone's political, economic, cultural, financial, and educational center. However, on 23 March 1967, a group of military officers in the Sierra Leone Army led by Brigadier General Andrew Juxon-Smith, staged a counter coup against Commander Lansana. [56][57][58][59], The settlement of Sierra Leone in the 1800s was unique in that the population was composed of displaced Africans who were brought to the colony after the British abolition of the slave trade in 1807. While the district councils are under the oversight of their respective provincial administrations, the municipalities are directly overseen by the Ministry of Local Government & Community Development and thus administratively independent of district and provincial administrations. The incident brought religious tension in Sierra Leone, in a country known for its high level of religious tolerance, as many Sierra Leonean Muslims at home and abroad called for Ajisafe to be deported back to his home country of Nigeria. On the voyage between Plymouth and Sierra Leone, 96 passengers died. The Sierra Leone Police under Bambay Kamara's leadership was accused of physical violence, arrest and intimidation against critics of President Momoh's government. These Liberated Africans or recaptives were sold for $20 a head as apprentices to the white settlers, Nova Scotian Settlers, and the Jamaican Maroons. Sierra Leone has the largest natural harbour on the African continent, allowing international shipping through the Queen Elizabeth II Quay in the Cline Town area of eastern Freetown or through Government Wharf in central Freetown. In 2007, a pay-per-view service was also introduced by GTV as part of a pan-African television service in addition to the nine-year-old sub-Saharan Digital satellite television service (DStv) originating from Multichoice Africa in South Africa. Another 24 were discharged, and another 23 ran away. Population data comes from the most recent census conducted in the country in 2015. Diamond mining has been an important part of Sierra Leones history since diamonds were discovered here in the 1930s. The Temne predominate in the Northern Sierra Leone and some areas around the capital of Sierra Leone. Current ratio of men and women in absolute and relative values in Koinadugu District, Sierra Leone. UNITED NATIONS INTEGRATED PEACEBUILDING OFFICE IN SIERRA LEONE. The Parliament of Sierra Leone is unicameral, with 146 seats. 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. Waterloo is located about twenty miles east of Freetown. When Sierra Leone gained independence in 1961, the Royal Sierra Leone Military Force was created from the Sierra Leone Battalion of the West African Frontier Force. This is due to substandard safety standards.[154]. [157] The use of coal and firewood has also posed environmental concerns as they are both in conflict with the push for more sustainable sources of energy. Helicopters are also available from the airport to other major cities in the country. The British were the catalyst for the ceasefire that ended the civil war. Sierra Leone had its own parliament and its own prime minister, and had the ability to make 100% of its own laws, however, as with countries such as Canada and Australia, Sierra Leone remained a "Dominion" and Queen Elizabeth was Queen of the independent Dominion of Sierra Leone. Freetown is located in the Western region of the country and it is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean besides being the capital city of Sierra Leone. [216], The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the population is 1.6%, higher than the world average of 1% but lower than the average of 6.1% across Sub-Saharan Africa. "Female Genital Cutting: Current Practices and Beliefs in Western Africa." In April 2010, the SLBS merged with the United Nations peacekeeping radio station in Sierra Leone to form the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation,[246][247] the government-owned current national broadcaster in Sierra Leone. Other courts include the High Court of Justice, the Court of Appeal, the magistrate courts, and traditional courts in rural villages. After 11 years, the country conducted another census in 1974, in that headcount, the population grew to two million, seven hundred and thirty-five thousand one hundred and fifty-nine (2,735,159) and after another 11 years in 1985, the census report recorded a population of three million five hundred and fifteen thousand, eight hundred and twelve (3,515,812). On 5 July 1994 SAJ Musa, who was popular among the general population, particularly in Freetown, was arrested and sent into exile after he was accused of planning a coup to topple Strasser, an accusation SAJ Musa denied. This polygon shapefile contains the boundary of Sierra Leone (adm0). Bo was then the capital of the British Protectorate of Sierra Leone until the country gained independence in 1961. In Kono District, a rural eastern region of 500,00 people, famous for its diamond mines and as the epicenter of Sierra Leone's decade-long civil war, PIH is investing in every level of the health system. The interior contains a variety of landforms ranging from savanna-covered low plains to rocky scarp and hill country. The coup plot led to the execution of seventeen soldiers by firing squad. Bambay Kamara was also a strong Momoh loyalist and supporter. The current members of the Parliament of Sierra Leone were elected in the 2012 Sierra Leone parliamentary election. Several mudslides occurred in the early hours of 14 August 2017 in and near the country's capital Freetown. Each one of Sierra Leone's 14 districts is headed by a district police commissioner who is the professional head of their respective district. Sierra Leone is known for its blood diamonds that were mined and sold to diamond conglomerates during the civil war, to buy the weapons that fuelled its atrocities. [228], One of the consequences women in Sierra Leone face after a prolonged and obstructed labour that would have required a c-section is obstetric fistula. [156] To ensure that the Energy Africa goal is met, Sierra Leone has agreed to remove its import duties and Value Added Tax (VAT) on certified solar products. Upon Milton Margai's unexpected death in 1964, his younger half-brother, Sir Albert Margai, was appointed as Prime Minister by parliament. It was founded in 1792 by abolitionist John Clarkson and was settled by freed slaves from various parts of the world whose descendants are known as the Sierra Leone Creole people. It is primarily designed to implement development projects and promote regional economic integration between the four countries.[120]. Print. The British Crown reorganised the Sierra Leone Company as the African Institution; it was directed to improve the local economy. Sierra Leone is subdivided into four regions which are the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Provinces which are further subdivided into 14 districts. The president is the head of state, the head of government and the commander-in-chief of the Sierra Leone Armed Forces. [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. The Sierra Leone Peninsula, which is the site of Freetown, is a region of thickly wooded mountains that run parallel to the sea for about 25 miles (40 km). Sir Albert's leadership was briefly challenged by Foreign Minister John Karefa-Smart, who questioned Sir Albert's succession to the SLPP leadership position. In the south, the plains comprise a rolling wooded country where isolated hills rise abruptly to more than 1,000 feet (300 metres). The city had a population of 34,079 in the 2004 census and a 2013 estimate of 40,000. Riots in 1955 and 1956 involved "tens of thousands" of Sierra Leoneans in the Protectorate.[67]. Norman was a guard to Governor-general Sir Henry Lightfoot-Boston. [79] [63], The British interacted mostly with the Krios in Freetown, who did most of the trading with the indigenous peoples of the interior. [20], During the few decades following independence, Sierra Leone witnessed an increase in political activities, transformations, turmoil, humanitarian and socio-economic crises. For example, some of the Liberated Africans were forced to change their name to a more Western sounding one. The executive branch of the Government of Sierra Leone, headed by the president of Sierra Leone has extensive powers and influences. Domestic slavery, which continued to be practised by local African elites, was abolished in 1928. The NPRC Junta maintained relations with ECOWAS and strengthened support for Sierra Leone-based ECOMOG troops fighting in the Liberian war. 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. [21] Ahmad Tejan Kabbah won the 1996 presidential election and became the first multi-party democratically elected president of Sierra Leone. Margai was popular among Sierra Leoneans during his time in power, mostly known for his self-effacement. Manga Sewa's father had several wives and dozens of children. Different sources give different estimates. The amount of illegal fishing has significantly depleted fish stocks, depriving local fishing communities of an important resource for survival. They predominate in the large town of Koindu and its surrounding areas in Kailahun District. He created several government institutions that are still in use today. There are three free terrestrial television stations in Sierra Leone, one run by the government SLBC and the other two are private stations in Freetown, Star TV which is run by the owner of the Standard-Times newspaper and AYV Africa Young Voices. 267,266. [54] The Liberated Africans eventually modified their customs to adopt those of the Nova Scotians, Maroons and Europeans, yet kept some of their ethnic traditions. The Lumley-Aberdeen beach stretches all the way from Cape Sierra Leone down to Lumley. Stevens had campaigned on a platform of bringing the tribes together under socialist principles. Its now home to a diverse group of inhabitants and is also where the Bai Bureh Warriors hail from, one of Sierra Leones oldest and most famous football clubs. One of the top-ranking soldiers in the NPRC Junta, Lieutenant Sahr Sandy, a trusted ally of Strasser, was assassinated, allegedly by Major S.I.M. [35] The Dutch and French also started arriving and set up trade near the coast. The Mende are also Muslim majority at about 70%, though with a large Christian minority at about 30%. [210] Males also showed to be more vulnerable to depression after losing a caregiver. In 2018, Sierra Leone held a general election. On 19 October 1998, 24 soldiers in the Sierra Leone armyincluding Gborie, Brigadier Hassan Karim Conteh, Colonel Samuel Francis Koroma, Major Kula Samba and Colonel Abdul Karim Sesaywere executed by firing squad after they were convicted in a court martial in Freetown, some for orchestrating the 1997 coup that overthrew President Kabbah and others for failure to reverse the mutiny.[94]. Setting: Twenty-seven peripheral health units, five secondary hospitals and one tertiary hospital, Western Area District, Sierra Leone.Objectives: To describe reporting systems, monthly attendances and facility-based patterns of six non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the pre-Ebola and Ebola virus disease outbreak periods.Design: A cross-sectional study using programme data. The airport has paved runways longer than 3,047 metres (9,997 feet). After a trial that lasted a few months, Bangura was convicted and sentenced to death. [88] The situation has improved considerably since then with primary school enrolment doubling between 2001 and 2005 and the reconstruction of many schools since the end of the war. [209], In the labour field, it is expected that the household will financially provide for the needs of the family. It is the wealthiest region in Sierra Leone and also acts as the countrys cultural and financial center. [116] The Sierra Leone parliament is led by the Speaker of Parliament, who is the overall leader of Parliament and is directly elected by sitting members of parliament. [255], In 2006, President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah committed to reforming the laws governing the press and media to create a freer system for journalists to work in. 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. President Kabbah took power with a great promise of ending the civil war. Other figures are estimates from the source cited. The Limba are about 60% Christian and 40% Muslims. The 20 Biggest Football Stadiums in the World, The Top 10 Largest Deserts in the World: A Journey Through Vast, Diverse Landscapes, Highest Mountains in the World (higher than 8,000 meters), Tourism in the Philippines: 20 Reasons to Visit. Together these peoples formed the Krio ethnicity and an English-based creole language, (Krio), which is the lingua franca and de facto national language used among many of the ethnicities in the country. Sierra Leone has one of the world's largest deposits of rutile, a titanium ore used as paint pigment and welding rod coatings. In 2008, CDC began supporting Sierra Leone's HIV response through the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The Kuranko are believed to have begun arriving in Sierra Leone from Guinea in about 1600 and settled in the north, particularly in Koinadugu District. On 19 April 1971, when Sierra Leone became a republic, the Royal Sierra Leone Military Forces were renamed the Republic of Sierra Leone Military Force (RSLMF). Its numerous creeks and estuaries contain mangrove swamps. It is the fifth-largest city in Sierra Leone, and the Tenme people make up the largest ethnic group in the city. The Oku people are related to the Krio and primarily reside in the communities of Fourah Bay, Fula Town, and Aberdeen in Freetown. 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]. Sierra Leone is a country in the western region of Africa bordering Liberia, Guinea, and the Atlantic Ocean. [55]:34,223255, These Liberated Africans were from many areas of Africa, but principally the west coast. As the sole candidate, Momoh was elected president without opposition and sworn in as Sierra Leone's second president on 28 November 1985 in Freetown. There are several main internet service providers (ISPs) operating in the country. 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. As the Krio language is spoken by 90% of the country's population,[103][167] it unites all the different ethnic groups, especially in their trade and interaction with each other. There are also other popular beaches like the world renowned River Number 2 Beach, Laka Beach, Tokeh Beach, Bureh Beach, and Mama Beach. [74][75] Thousands of Sierra Leoneans took to the streets in celebration. [93], Promises of a return to civilian rule were fulfilled by Bio. The 1898 Hut Tax rebellion occurred as a response to British attempts to impose an annual tax on all houses in the country. [161] There were plans to increase its capacity 400 megawatts by 2017 which would cost around $750 million. [174] "Pandebu-Tokpombu" is presumably the extended town of Torgbonbu, which had a population of 10,716 in the 2004 census. Passengers cross the river to Aberdeen Heliports in Freetown by hovercraft, ferry or a helicopter. ", War and state collapse: The case of Sierra Leone, "NPRC's Komba Kambo Speaks After Eleven Years Of Silence! 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. [103] As a result of migration to cities, the population is becoming more urban with an estimated rate of urbanisation growth of 2.9% a year. [226], In the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted by UNICEF in 2012, the prevalence of female genital mutilation in Sierra Leone was 94%. Until 2017, there were only three Sierra Leone provinces, and there were previously fewer districts and chiefdoms as well. Within days, Freetown was overwhelmed by the presence of the RUF combatants who came to the city in thousands. In 1792 nearly 1,200 persons from Nova Scotia crossed the Atlantic to build the second (and only permanent) Colony of Sierra Leone and the settlement of Freetown on 11 March 1792. The figure for Freetown is for the Western Urban Area (Greater Freetown). On 29 April 1992, a group of young soldiers in the Sierra Leone Army, led by seven army officersLieutenant Sahr Sandy, Captain Valentine Strasser, Lieutenant Solomon "SAJ" Musa, Captain Komba Mondeh, Lieutenant Tom Nyuma, Captain Julius Maada Bio and Captain Komba Kambo[89]staged a military coup that sent president Momoh into exile in Guinea, and the young soldiers established the National Provisional Ruling Council (NPRC), with 25-year-old Captain Valentine Strasser as its chairman and Head of State of the country. They designated chiefs as units of local government, rather than dealing with them individually as had been the previous practice. Many senior officers in the Sierra Leone Army were greatly disappointed with Stevens' policies and his handling of the Sierra Leone Military, but none could confront Stevens. [162] It has been projected that the Bumbuna dam could potentially reduce the amount of spending on foreign fuel and save the country at least $2 million a month. Problems experienced with access to the Internet include an intermittent electricity supply and a slow connection speed in the country outside Freetown. [103][165], Population density varies greatly within Sierra Leone. Protesters have been killed by security forces, as have prison rioters (in one incident at Pademba Road Prison, 30 inmates and one correction officer were killed). Though according to Professor C. Magbaily Fyle, this might have been a misinterpretation from historians. [153] In the 1970s and early 1980s, economic growth rate slowed because of a decline in the mining sector and increasing corruption among government officials. The APC, with its leader Siaka Stevens, narrowly won a small majority of seats in Parliament over the SLPP in a closely contested 1967 general election. In other words, the population of Sierra Leone has grown almost three and half times it was in 1963 (2,180,355). 267,827. Most of the proposals came from leaders of the Protectorate, whose population far outnumbered that in the colony. [159], In conjunction with the UK's Department for International Development (DFID), Sierra Leone has set the goal to provide solar power to all of its citizens by 2025. An alleged plot to overthrow president Stevens failed in 1974 and its leaders were executed. The Western Area Urban District exclusively comprises the entire city of Freetown, the national capital, and its divided into the . [235], The water supply in Sierra Leone is characterised by limited access to safe drinking water. In 1896 it annexed these areas, declaring them the Sierra Leone Protectorate. [20], Stevens assumed power as Prime Minister again in 1968, following a series of coups, with a great deal of hope and ambition. The Susu and their related Yalunka are traders; both groups are primarily found in the far north in Kambia and Koinadugu District close to the border with Guinea. [99] On 16 March 2016, the World Health Organization declared Sierra Leone to be free from Ebola.[100]. Both genders experienced and were involved in high levels of violence. The vast majority of the Mende support the Sierra Leone People's Party; while the majority of the Temne support the All People's Congress.[208]. [28] The use of iron was adopted by the ninth century, and by 1000 AD, agriculture was being practised along the coast. Mining of diamonds in the east and other minerals expanded, drawing labourers there from other parts of the country. The 68% of the rural population without access to an improved water source relied on surface water (50%), unprotected wells (9%) and unprotected springs (9%). Like Stevens, Momoh was also a member of the minority Limba ethnic group. Islam was introduced by Susu traders, merchants and migrants from the north and east, becoming widely adopted in the 18th century. Lansana placed Stevens under house arrest in Freetown and insisted that the determination of the Prime Minister should await the election of the tribal representatives to the House. Male. [78] Sir Albert Margai took power and sought to make the army homogeneously Mende. Located in the Eastern Province is Koidu Town which is not only the largest city in that province but the capital of Kono District which rich in diamond. Male same-sex sexual activity is illegal under Section 61 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861, and imprisonment for life is possible. They predominate in the large towns, most notably Karina, in Bombali District in the north; Kabala and Falaba in Koinadugu District in the north; and Yengema, Kono District in the east of the country. Pressures to end colonialism had as much to do with Britains weakened position following World War II as it did with the pan-African demands for autonomy. The district has the highest percentage, a total of 10.2%, making it the most populated in the country. Sierra Leone is a country in the western region of Africa bordering Liberia, Guinea, and the Atlantic Ocean. Sierra Leone is a secular nation with the constitution providing for the separation of state and religion and freedom of conscience (which includes freedom of thoughts and religion). The three least populated districts are Karene, Falaba, and Koinadugu with 3.8%, 2.2%, and 2.7% respectively of the total population. [114], Since independence in 1961, Sierra Leone's politics has been dominated by two major political parties: the SLPP and the APC. For her loyalty, she was awarded a silver medal by Queen Victoria. The Krio have traditionally dominated Sierra Leone's judiciary and Freetown's elected city council. Poyo is a popular Sierra Leonean drink. [30], Sierra Leone's dense tropical rainforest and swampy environment were considered impenetrable; it was also host to the tsetse fly, which carried a disease fatal to horses and the zebu cattle used by the Mande-speaking people. The first of the 6,000-member force began arriving in December, and the UN Security Council voted in February 2000 to increase the force to 11,000, and later to 13,000. [64] With this change, the British began to expand their administration in the region, recruiting British citizens to posts and pushing Krios out of positions in government and even the desirable residential areas in Freetown.[64]. [79] With the lack of technology, mostly in all Sierra Leone, it is hard to help a business to function. According to the report, Sierra Leones population has increased by 6.4%, since the last census in 2015. The country has three universities: Fourah Bay College, founded in 1827 (the oldest university in West Africa),[214] University of Makeni (established initially in September 2005 as The Fatima Institute, the college was granted university status in August 2009, and assumed the name University of Makeni, or UNIMAK), and Njala University, primarily located in Bo District. [157] The burning of these sources has been reported to have adverse health effects on women and children. It also borders Liberia and each of Sierra Leones five administrative regions. Its capital and economic hub is Port Loko, and it is divided into three districts. Freetown, a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean, is the biggest and capital city of Sierra Leone. [72][73] Sir Albert was opposed to the colonial legacy of allowing executive powers to the Paramount Chiefs, many of whom had been key allies of his late brother Sir Milton. Poyo bars are areas of lively informal debate about politics, football, basketball, entertainment and other issues. Pro-slavery advocates accused the Black Poor of being responsible for a large proportion of crime in 18th century London. One of the first ethnic groups to become educated according to Western traditions, they have traditionally been appointed to positions in the civil service, beginning during the colonial years.