Stevens is generally criticised for dictatorial methods and government corruption, but on a positive note, he kept the country stable and from collapsing into civil war. The provincial districts are divided into 186 chiefdoms, which have traditionally been led by paramount chiefs, recognised by the British administration in 1896 at the time of organising the Protectorate of Sierra Leone. The town lies about 30 miles . [71] In May 1957, Sierra Leone held its first parliamentary election. There was great suspicion that president Momoh was not serious about his promise of political reform, as APC rule continued to be increasingly marked by abuses of power. For example, some of the Liberated Africans were forced to change their name to a more Western sounding one. This means that no airline registered in Sierra Leone may operate services of any kind within the European Union. Many sufferers try to cure themselves with the help of traditional healers. [257] In 2007 there were 15 daily newspapers in the country, as well as those published weekly. In addition, it stated that: The population size of Sierra Leone in 2021 has more than tripled since the first modern census that was conducted in 1963. Like Stevens, Momoh was also a member of the minority Limba ethnic group. Sierra Leone is a major producer of gem-quality diamonds. 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%). [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. 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. The NPRC junta established the National Supreme Council of State as the military highest command and final authority in all matters and was exclusively made up of the highest-ranking NPRC soldiers, included Strasser himself and the original soldiers who toppled president Momoh.[90]. However, the main suspect, Major S.I.M. Sherbro was influential and powerful and the British greatly feared him. [63], The British interacted mostly with the Krios in Freetown, who did most of the trading with the indigenous peoples of the interior. However, the British exceeded their original mandate and took full military action to finally defeat the rebels and restore order. 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. In addition, differences between the Register of Liberated Africans of 1808 and the List of Captured Negroes of 1812 (which emulated the 1808 document) revealed some disparities in the entries of the recaptives, specifically in the names; many recaptives decided to change their given names to more anglicised versions which contributed to the difficulty in tracking them after they arrived in Sierra Leone. Stevens held on to this position for 14 years (until 1985) under a one-party system of government facilitated by the controversial 1978 Constitution. [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. After they established Granville Town, most of the first group of colonists died, owing to disease and warfare with the indigenous African peoples (Temne), who resisted their encroachment. 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. Sierra Leone became an independent, sovereign state on 27 April 1961 with Milton Margai as its Prime Minister. Hence, the country formally became known as the Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate or simply British Sierra Leone. The situation in the country deteriorated to such an extent that British troops were deployed in Operation Palliser, originally simply to evacuate foreign nationals. [49] Black settlers in Sierra Leone enjoyed much more autonomy than their white equivalent in European countries. Sierra Leone has a total area of 71,740km2 (27,699sqmi), divided into a land area of 71,620km2 (27,653sqmi) and water of 120km2 (46sqmi). The provinces of Sierra Leone are divided into 16 districts, as of July 2017. Islam and Christianity are the two main religions in the country. The two districts of the Western Area are: As of 2017, there are 16 Sierra Leone districts. [106], Human activities claimed to be responsible or contributing to land degradation in Sierra Leone include unsustainable agricultural land use, poor soil and water management practices, deforestation, removal of natural vegetation, fuelwood consumption and to a lesser extent overgrazing and urbanisation. Area figures are derived from geospatial data. Bo is also headed by a mayor and governed by the city council. Sierra Leone is subdivided into four regions which are the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Provinces which are further subdivided into 14 districts. Sierra Leone's Freetown is a favourite destination for tourists. UNITED NATIONS INTEGRATED PEACEBUILDING OFFICE IN SIERRA LEONE. The coup plot led to the execution of seventeen soldiers by firing squad. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 90.2 (2012): 120-127F. Dozens of soldiers loyal to the ousted president Momoh were arrested, including Colonel Kahota M. Dumbuya and Major Yayah Turay. No style is the best. Its capital and economic hub is Port Loko, and it is divided into three districts. In August 2017, one new province (Northwestern), two new districts (Falaba and Karene) and. Stevens reorganised the country's oil refinery, the government-owned Cape Sierra Hotel, and a cement factory. Two other commercial TV operators (ABC and AIT) closed after they were not profitable. He, like Bai Bureh, resisted the British. The British later captured Nyagua, and he was also exiled to the Gold Coast. Sierra Leone has one of the world's largest deposits of rutile, a titanium ore used as paint pigment and welding rod coatings. The first is the Guma plant which was decommissioned in 1982, the second is the Dodo Plant which is located in the Eastern Province, and finally the Bumbuna plant. 132 members are elected concurrently with the presidential elections; the other 16 seats are filled by paramount chiefs from the country's 16 administrative districts. Corporal Gborie quickly went to the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Services headquarters in New England, Freetown to announce the coup to a shocked nation and to alert all soldiers across the country to report for guard duty. They are the original owners of the Futa Djallon region covered by a vars land area both the Susu and Yalunka people are descendants of the Mande people. The provinces of Sierra Leone are divided into 14 districts. Sankoh was a British trained former army corporal who had also undergone guerrilla training in Libya. The current members of the Parliament of Sierra Leone were elected in the 2012 Sierra Leone parliamentary election. It is listed among countries of concern for emissions, as having Low Forest Cover with High Rates of Deforestation (LFHD). Within a month they had driven RUF fighters back to enclaves along Sierra Leone's borders and cleared the RUF from the Kono diamond-producing areas of Sierra Leone. [74][75] Thousands of Sierra Leoneans took to the streets in celebration. Domestic slavery, which continued to be practised by local African elites, was abolished in 1928. [103] The country has four distinct geographical regions. Many people moved to Freetown during the countrys civil war to avoid violence in more rural areas, and economic opportunities also draw people to the city. 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. Although the British government recommended leniency, Cardew insisted on sending the chief and two allies into exile in the Gold Coast; his government hanged 96 of the chief's warriors. The Mende are also Muslim majority at about 70%, though with a large Christian minority at about 30%. In December 2005, UN peacekeeping forces pulled out of Sierra Leone. [79] Due to the lack of access to basic education, women are the least prepared when it comes to processing business licences, registering names or contracting. The Western Area is divided into two districts. [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. Under the pressure of several coup attempts, real or perceived, Stevens' rule grew more and more authoritarian, and his relationship with some of his ardent supporters deteriorated. Next in proportion are the Kono, who live primarily in Kono District in Eastern Sierra Leone. The Krio have traditionally dominated Sierra Leone's judiciary and Freetown's elected city council. Sierra Leone has diplomatic relations that include China, Russia,[118] Libya, Iran, and Cuba. Sierra Leone's former defense minister Alfred Paolo Conteh is an ethnic Limba. [221] The founding members of the Coalition included the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society (the first chairing organisation), LFR International (proposed the formation), the University of Makeni, Agency for Rural Community Transformation, and the Holy Spirit Hospital. It is bordered by Liberia to the southeast and Guinea surrounds the northern half of the nation. For several months, Bureh's fighters had the advantage over the vastly more powerful British forces but both sides suffered hundreds of fatalities. By geographical area, Koinadugu District is the largest by several thousand square kilometers. Over the next decade, much of the formal economy was destroyed in the country's civil war. Print. It is a sweet, lightly fermented palm wine,[245] and is found in bars in towns and villages across the country. Margai was accused of favouring members of his own Mende ethnic group for prominent positions. The currency is the leone. The Eastern Province is the center of the countrys diamond mining industry. What Are The Biggest Industries In Sierra Leone? In 1924, the UK government divided the administration of Sierra Leone into Colony and Protectorate, with different political systems constitutionally defined for each. Sir Albert resorted to increasingly authoritarian actions in response to protests and enacted several laws against the opposition All People's Congress, whilst attempting to establish a one-party state. Freetown was known as the "Athens of Africa" due to the large number of excellent schools in Freetown and surrounding areas. Sierra Leone operates a floating exchange rate system, and foreign currencies can be exchanged at any of the commercial banks, recognised foreign exchange bureaux and most hotels. His father was a Yalunka paramount chief of Solima, a prosperous chieftaincy. [210] Males, on the other hand, presented higher levels of anxiety and hostility. When the national football team, the Leone Stars, have a match, Sierra Leoneans across the country come together united in support of the national team and people rush to their local radio and television stations to follow the live match. In the 1972 by-elections, the opposition SLPP complained of intimidation and procedural obstruction by the APC and militia. Some claim that Magburaka should be included in the above list, but there is considerable difference among sources. [104][105], Sierra Leone is home to four terrestrial ecoregions: Guinean montane forests, Western Guinean lowland forests, Guinean forest-savanna mosaic, and Guinean mangroves. [72][73], On 27 April 1961, Sir Milton Margai led Sierra Leone to independence from Great Britain and became the country's first Prime Minister. Problems experienced with access to the Internet include an intermittent electricity supply and a slow connection speed in the country outside Freetown. [157] The burning of these sources has been reported to have adverse health effects on women and children. Men continue to be the lesser population with a total of three million seven hundred and twenty-seven thousand, seven hundred and forty-seven (3,727,747), comprising 49.4% of the total population. [87] This move led to another major demonstration against the government in many parts of the country, but it was also put down by the army and Stevens' SSD force. 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