It became an affiliate member of the International Cricket Council in 2002. Association football is by far the most popular sport in Sierra Leone. Eventually, "Elections before Peace" won the debate. The United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) ran one of the most popular stations in the country, broadcasting programs in a range of languages. Sierra Leone is home to Sub-Saharan Africa's first Western-style university: Fourah Bay College (established in 1827). She used diplomacy to communicate with many local chiefs who did not trust her friendship with the British. The discussions eventually concluded with key stakeholders, including Bio's administration and the UN, agreeing that while efforts in finding a peaceful solution to ending the war should continue, a general election should be held as soon as possible. Each of the country's 14 districts is represented in parliament. [60], In the early 19th century, Freetown served as the residence of the British colonial governor of the region, who also administered the Gold Coast (now Ghana) and the Gambia settlements. [210], Women face discrimination when it comes to obtaining financial, social, and cultural help to start a business. The NPRC's efforts proved to be nearly ineffective as the ousted Momoh administration in repelling the RUF rebels. Just like Freetown, Bo has an ethnically diverse population but is home to the Mende people, and the primary language is the Krio language. [126][127] The RSLMF remained a single-service organisation until 1979, when the Sierra Leone Navy was established. Bonthe is one of the sixteen districts of Sierra Leone. Waterloo is a major urban transport hub and lies on the . There is also a supply of natural resources such as gold, aluminum, and bauxite, which also contribute to the local economy. But if a woman gets married, she will not be entitled as the head of the house any more. [128][129], Excessive police brutality is also a frequent problem. Mineral exports remain the main currency earner. Bunce Island became a prime spot for transporting slaves to Europe and America. Next to the president is the vice-president, who is the second highest-ranking government official in the executive branch of the Sierra Leone Government. Sierra Leone's highways are linked to Conakry, Guinea, and Monrovia, Liberia. Its capital and economic hub is Port Loko, and it is divided into three districts. Falaba District Falaba District is a district in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone. [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. [215] Teacher training colleges and religious seminaries are found in many parts of 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. [131] Typically, chiefs have the power to "raise taxes, control the judicial system, and allocate land, the most important resource in rural areas. [79], Education in Sierra Leone is legally required for all children for six years at primary level (Class P1-P6) and three years in junior secondary education,[211] but a shortage of schools and teachers has made implementation impossible. The Njala University is the second largest university in Sierra Leone located in Bo city. The candidate was Major General Joseph Saidu Momoh, head of the Sierra Leone Armed Forces and Stevens' own choice to succeed him. [55]:34,223255, These Liberated Africans were from many areas of Africa, but principally the west coast. The national capital Freetown sits on a coastal peninsula, situated next to the Sierra Leone Harbour. UNITED NATIONS INTEGRATED PEACEBUILDING OFFICE IN SIERRA LEONE. 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. The third-largest ethnic group are the Limba at about 8.4% of the population. One traditional leader from each district occupies a seat in Sierra Leone's parliament. English is the official language used in schools and government administration. Bunce Island, an island on the Sierra Leone River, was used as a base for European slavers as a place for slave ships to dock before sailing via the Middle Passage to the Americas. [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. Civil War In Sierra Leone And The Role Of "Blood Diamonds". The official documentation known as the Book of Negroes lists thousands of freed slaves whom the British evacuated from the nascent United States and resettled in colonies elsewhere in British North America (north to Canada, or south to the West Indies). Ajisafe was apparently angry after a Zimbabwean Muslim cleric Mufti Menk had visited Sierra Leone and preached to large crowds. To maintain the support of the military, Stevens retained the popular John Amadu Bangura as head of the Sierra Leone Armed Forces. We operate Wellbody Clinic; support Koidu Government Hospital (KGH), Kono's only hospital; and are supporting smaller public primary . Siaka Stevens retired from politics in November 1985 after being in power for eighteen years. Many Liberated Africans were treated poorly and even abused because some of the original settlers considered them their property. and James A. Robinson. Bombali became one of the most heavily affected districts in Sierra Leone, with 873 confirmed patients with Ebola during July-November 2014. Many Ahmadiyya Muslims in Sierra Leone also follow the Maliki Jurisprudence. In 1799 some of the settlers revolted. [86] SSD officers were loyal to Stevens and were deployed across the country to clamp down on any rebellion or protest against Stevens' government. More and more of the country fell into the hands RUF fighters, and by 1994 they had gotten control of much of the diamond-rich Eastern Province and were getting close toward the capital Freetown. Most Sierra Leonean Muslims of the Sunni and Ahmadiyya sect generally pray together in the same mosque. Koroma suspended the constitution, banned demonstrations, shut down all private radio stations in the country and invited the RUF to join the new junta government, with its leader Foday Sankoh as the Vice-Chairman of the new AFRC-RUF coalition junta government. There are four districts in the Northern Province: The Southern Province of Sierra Leone has the most coastline on the Atlantic Ocean. Sierra Leone as a country lies between latitude and longitude 12.2 degrees west and 8.5 degrees north respectively. The vast majority of Temne are Muslims at over 85%; with a significant Christian minority at about 10%. Despite Makeni being ethnically diverse just as the other major cities in the country, the Temne people account for the largest ethnic group in the city and the main language is the Krio language. 113,185 (2015); Katu Town Urban Area: pop. In 1967, riots broke out in Freetown against Margai's policies; in response he declared a state of emergency across the country. [114], Since independence in 1961, Sierra Leone's politics has been dominated by two major political parties: the SLPP and the APC. The NPRC Junta maintained relations with ECOWAS and strengthened support for Sierra Leone-based ECOMOG troops fighting in the Liberian war. The currency is the leone. It borders the country of Guinea as well as three other provinces in Sierra Leone. Dumbuya and former inspector general of police Bambay Kamara, was foiled. Diamond mining has been an important part of Sierra Leones history since diamonds were discovered here in the 1930s. Graphic maps of the area around 8 33' 36" N, 13 31' 30" W. There are many color schemes to choose from. Pro-slavery advocates accused the Black Poor of being responsible for a large proportion of crime in 18th century London. There are a number of cultural attractions in Freetown, such as the Sierra Leone National Museum and various historical landmarks related to the founding of the city. [177][178][179] Most the major Muslim and Christian holidays are officially national holidays in the country, and religious conflict is rare.[180]. [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. [209], In Sierra Leone, normally, men are automatically positioned as household heads; and their status does not change if their marital status changes over time. The Limba are close political allies of the neighbouring Temne. The Fula are primarily traders, and many live in middle-class homes. The Sierra Leonean-Lebanese community are primarily traders and they mostly live in middle-class households in the urban areas, primarily in Freetown, Bo, Kenema, Koidu Town and Makeni. Since independence, the Limba have traditionally been influential in Sierra Leone's politics, along with the Mende. [3] [4] It is one of the sixteen Districts of Sierra Leone. By the 1990s, economic activity was declining and economic infrastructure had become seriously degraded. [61] The British established Fourah Bay College in 1827, which rapidly became a magnet for English-speaking Africans on the West Coast. 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. The monopoly was scheduled to last 98 years. Other minority ethnic groups are the Kuranko, who are related to the Mandingo and are largely Muslims. In 2014, an Ebola virus epidemic in Sierra Leone began that widely affected the country,[96] including forcing Sierra Leone to declare a state of emergency. The current acting chief justice of Sierra Leone is Desmond Babatunde Edwards. The interior contains a variety of landforms ranging from savanna-covered low plains to rocky scarp and hill country. [74][75] Thousands of Sierra Leoneans took to the streets in celebration. The armed forces were formed after independence in 1961, based on elements of the former British Royal West African Frontier Force present in the country. In Sierra Leone they were called the Nova Scotian Settlers, the Nova Scotians, or the Settlers. At the same time, he sent warriors to assist Bai Bureh in fighting against the British. [55] As the Liberated Africans became successful traders[54] and spread Christianity throughout West Africa, they intermarried with the Nova Scotians and Maroons, and the two groups eventually became a fusion of African and Western societies. The British were the catalyst for the ceasefire that ended the civil war. The district has both highlands and lowlands. Upon Milton Margai's unexpected death in 1964, his younger half-brother, Sir Albert Margai, was appointed as Prime Minister by parliament. Following the American Revolution, more than 3,000 Black Loyalists had also been settled in Nova Scotia, where they were finally granted land. Madam Yoko (c. 18491906) was a brilliant woman of culture and ambition. Sierra Leone is the first African country to join the International Floorball Federation. Waterloo is located about twenty miles east of Freetown. Each has a directly elected local district council to exercise authority and carry out functions at a local level. Bo is located in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone, and the whole urban center is commonly known as Bo Town. They designated chiefs as units of local government, rather than dealing with them individually as had been the previous practice. [225], According to 2017 estimates, Sierra Leone has the third highest maternal mortality rate in the world. Freetown is Sierra Leone's political, economic, cultural, financial, and educational center. Though according to Professor C. Magbaily Fyle, this might have been a misinterpretation from historians. Supreme executive authority rests in the president and members of his cabinet and judicial power with the judiciary of which the Chief Justice of Sierra Leone is the head. The RSLMF was renamed as the Armed Forces of the Republic of Sierra Leone (AFRSL). In 1978, the APC-dominant parliament approved a new constitution making the country a one-party state. The Criminal Libel Law, including Seditious Libel Law of 1965, is used to control what is published in the media. In addition to information about the provinces of Sierra Leone, well also look at how many districts are in Sierra Leone and data relating to each. Because Madam Yoko supported the British, some sub-chiefs rebelled, causing Yoko to take refuge in the police barracks. Male same-sex sexual activity is illegal under Section 61 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861, and imprisonment for life is possible. [160] This initiative falls under the Energy Africa access campaign which seeks to provide electricity to 14 different African countries by 2030. Margai was popular among Sierra Leoneans during his time in power, mostly known for his self-effacement. [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. Sierra Leoneans did not passively accept such manipulations. Rising above the plateau are a number of mountain masses; in the northeast, the Loma Mountains are crowned by Mount Loma Mansa (Mount Bintimani) at 6,391 feet (1,948 metres), and the Tingi Mountains rise to 6,080 feet (1,853 metres) at Sankanbiriwa Peak. The Kuranko are largely Muslim majority. 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. But at the equivalent tournament in 2006, Division Three of the African region of the World Cricket League, it finished as runner-up to Mozambique, and just missed promotion to Division Two. Along the streets of towns and cities across Sierra Leone, one can find foods consisting of fruit, vegetables and snacks such as fresh mangoes, oranges, pineapple, fried plantains, ginger beer, fried potato, fried cassava with pepper sauce; small bags of popcorn or peanuts, bread, roasted corn, or skewers of grilled meat or shrimp. Both genders experienced and were involved in high levels of violence. The district has the highest percentage, a total of 10.2%, making it the most populated in the country. This condition often drives women into poverty and isolation.[229]. The pastor while in Sierra Leone police custody apologised to Sierra Leonean Muslims and to the government of Sierra Leone. [169][170], According to the World Refugee Survey 2008, published by the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, Sierra Leone had a population of 8,700 refugees and asylum seekers at the end of 2007. The district capital is the town of Port Loko and its . The hostage crisis resulted in more fighting between the RUF and the government as UN troops launched Operation Khukri to end the siege. 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. The country is home to the Sierra Leone Inter-Religious Council, which is made up of both Christian and Muslim religious leaders to promote peace and tolerance throughout the country. Momoh broke from former President Siaka Stevens by integrating the powerful SSD into the Sierra Leone Police as a special paramilitary force. One of the biggest minority ethnic groups are the Fula at around 3.8% of the population. In the 2004 census, Waterloo had a population of 34,079. With Strasser's two most senior NPRC allies and commanders Lieutenant Sahr Sandy and Lieutenant Solomon Musa no longer around to defend him, Strasser's leadership within the NPRC's Supreme Council of State became fragile. 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. The highlands rise up to 700 feet, and are the highest in Sambaia Bendugu chiefdom. The Susu and Yalunka kingdom was established in the early fifth seventh century[clarification needed] before the Mali empire, which was extended from Mali, Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry to the northern part of Sierra Leone. The country can be divided into four distinct physical regions: the coastal swamp, the Sierra Leone Peninsula, the interior plains, and the interior plateau and mountain region. Turay, a key loyalist of ousted president Momoh. The report indicated that the country's just . Stevens had campaigned on a platform of bringing the tribes together under socialist principles. The reasons for the significant differences between the 2015 and 2021 figures are unclear. The Susu and Yalunka are both descendants of migrants from Guinea; they both are virtually all Muslims at over 99%. [78] Sir Albert Margai took power and sought to make the army homogeneously Mende. Bio replaced outgoing President Ernest Bai Koroma after Bio was sworn into office on 4 April 2018 by Chief Justice Abdulai Cham. The current system of the Government of Sierra Leone is based on the 1991 Sierra Leone Constitution. 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]. The capital of this province is Kenema, which is the economic center of the region and one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the country. 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. The first ETU and laboratory in Bombali District were established in late November and early December 2014, respectively. [53], At about the same time (following the abolition of the slave trade in 1807), Royal Navy crews delivered thousands of formerly enslaved Africans to Freetown, after liberating them from illegal slave ships. 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