Sierra Leone, officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea in the north, Liberia in the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean in the southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of 71,740 km2 (27,699 sq mi)[3] and has a population estimated at 6,440,053[1]. The country has a tropical climate, with a diverse environment ranging from savannah to rainforests.[4] Freetown is the capital, seat of government, and largest city.[3] Bo is the second largest city. Other major cities in the country with a population over 100,000 are Kenema, Koidu Town and Makeni. The country is home to Fourah Bay College, the oldest university in West Africa, established in 1827. Sierra Leone is home to one of the largest natural harbours in the world, and the Queen Elizabeth II Quay (also known as the QE II Quay and locally as the Deep Water Quay).[5][6]
Early inhabitants of Sierra Leone included the Sherbro, Temne and Limba, and Tyra peoples, and later the Mende,[7] who knew the country as Romarong, and the Kono who settled in the East of the country.[8] In 1462, it was visited by the Portuguese explorer Pedro da Cintra, who gave it its name Serra de Leão, meaning 'Lion Mountains'.[9] Sierra Leone became an important centre of the transatlantic trade in human beings (i.e., slaves), until 1792 when Freetown was founded by the Sierra Leone Company as a home for formerly enslaved African Americans.[10] In 1808, Freetown became a British Crown Colony, and in 1896, the interior of the country became a British Protectorate;[8] in 1961, the two combined and gained independence. Over two decades of government neglect of the interior followed by the spilling over of the Liberian conflict into its borders eventually led to the Sierra Leone Civil War,[11] which began in 1991 and was resolved in 2000 after the United Nations led by Nigeria defeated the rebel forces and restored the civilian government elected in 1998 to Freetown. Since then, almost 72,500 former combatants have been disarmed[12] and the country has reestablished a functioning democracy.[1] The Special Court for Sierra Leone was set up in 2002 to deal with war crimes and crimes against humanity committed since 1996.[13]
Sierra Leone is the lowest ranked country on the Human Development Index and seventh lowest on the Human Poverty Index,[14] suffering from endemic corruption[15] and suppression of the press.[16]
Early inhabitants of Sierra Leone included the Sherbro, Temne and Limba, and Tyra peoples, and later the Mende,[7] who knew the country as Romarong, and the Kono who settled in the East of the country.[8] In 1462, it was visited by the Portuguese explorer Pedro da Cintra, who gave it its name Serra de Leão, meaning 'Lion Mountains'.[9] Sierra Leone became an important centre of the transatlantic trade in human beings (i.e., slaves), until 1792 when Freetown was founded by the Sierra Leone Company as a home for formerly enslaved African Americans.[10] In 1808, Freetown became a British Crown Colony, and in 1896, the interior of the country became a British Protectorate;[8] in 1961, the two combined and gained independence. Over two decades of government neglect of the interior followed by the spilling over of the Liberian conflict into its borders eventually led to the Sierra Leone Civil War,[11] which began in 1991 and was resolved in 2000 after the United Nations led by Nigeria defeated the rebel forces and restored the civilian government elected in 1998 to Freetown. Since then, almost 72,500 former combatants have been disarmed[12] and the country has reestablished a functioning democracy.[1] The Special Court for Sierra Leone was set up in 2002 to deal with war crimes and crimes against humanity committed since 1996.[13]
Sierra Leone is the lowest ranked country on the Human Development Index and seventh lowest on the Human Poverty Index,[14] suffering from endemic corruption[15] and suppression of the press.[16]
Capital(and largest city)
Freetown8°31′N 13°15′W / 8.517°N 13.25°W / 8.517; -13.25
Official languages
English
Demonym
Sierra Leonean
Government
Constitutional republic
-
President
Ernest Bai Koroma
-
Vice President
Samuel Sam-Sumana
Independence
-
from the United Kingdom
April 27, 1961
-
Republic declared
April 19, 1971
Area
-
Total
71,740 km2 (119th)27,699 sq mi
-
Water (%)
1.1
Population
-
estimate
6,440,053 [1]
-
Density
83/km2 (114th1)199/sq mi
GDP (PPP)
2008 estimate
-
Total
$4.266 billion[2]
-
Per capita
$724[2]
GDP (nominal)
2008 estimate
-
Total
$1.955 billion[2]
-
Per capita
$332[2]
Gini (2003)
62.9 (high)
HDI (2007)
▲ 0.336 (low) (177th)
Currency
Leone (SLL)
Time zone
GMT (UTC+0)
Drives on the
right
Internet TLD
.sl
Calling code
232
1 History
1.1 Early History
1.2 Enslavement and Freedom
1.3 Colonial era
1.4 An independent nation
1.5 Multi-party constitution and RUF rebellion
2 Geography and climate
2.1 Environment
3 Government and politics
4 Foreign relations
5 Provinces and districts
5.1 Major cities
6 Economy
6.1 Currency
7 Military
8 Law enforcement
9 Demographics
10 Ethnic groups
10.1 Religion
11 Media
12 Music of Sierra Leone
13 Education
14 Transportation
14.1 Air
14.2 Prohibition from E.U. air operations
14.3 Water
14.4 Highways
15 Sports
15.1 Football
15.2 Cricket
15.3 Basketball
16 See Also
17 Notes
18 Book references
18.1 Primary sources
18.2 Secondary sources
19 Further reading
20 External links
1.1 Early History
1.2 Enslavement and Freedom
1.3 Colonial era
1.4 An independent nation
1.5 Multi-party constitution and RUF rebellion
2 Geography and climate
2.1 Environment
3 Government and politics
4 Foreign relations
5 Provinces and districts
5.1 Major cities
6 Economy
6.1 Currency
7 Military
8 Law enforcement
9 Demographics
10 Ethnic groups
10.1 Religion
11 Media
12 Music of Sierra Leone
13 Education
14 Transportation
14.1 Air
14.2 Prohibition from E.U. air operations
14.3 Water
14.4 Highways
15 Sports
15.1 Football
15.2 Cricket
15.3 Basketball
16 See Also
17 Notes
18 Book references
18.1 Primary sources
18.2 Secondary sources
19 Further reading
20 External links
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