Portal:Sierra Leone

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Sierra Leone, officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea in the northeast, 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) and has a population of 5,900,000. The country has a tropical climate, with a diverse environment ranging from savannah to rainforests. Freetown is the capital, seat of government, and largest city. Other major cities in the country with a population over 100,000 are Bo, Kenema, Koidu Town and Makeni. Although English is the official language spoken at schools and government administration, Krio (language derived from English and several West African languages and is native to the Sierra Leone Krio people) is the lingua franca spoken throughout the country. The Krio language unites all the different ethnic groups, especially in their trade and interaction with each other.

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The Sierra Leone Civil War began in 1991, initiated by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) under Foday Sankoh. Tens of thousands died and more than 2 million people (well over one-third of the population) were displaced because of the 9-year conflict. Neighbouring countries became host to significant numbers of refugees attempting to escape the civil war. It was officially declared over on 18 January 2002.

In 1985, Joseph Momoh, a military leader, was installed as president of Sierra Leone. One major opposition group consisted of students including Foday Sankoh, Abu Kanu, and Rashid Mansaray. Many students were expelled from the country and this group fled to Ghana and then Libya where they attended Moammar Qaddafi's secret service military training facility. The group recruited unemployed young men and students, but as the group grew, internal squabbles arose, and many left the group, some students to universities in Ghana, others back to Sierra Leone. However, others (including Kanu, Mansaray, and Sankoh) were still interested in revolution. The group then went to Kono District and toured the diamond mines, talking with workers about their situation, and spreading a revolutionary ideology.

Control of Sierra Leone's diamond industry was a primary cause of the war. Although endowed with abundant natural resources, Sierra Leone was ranked as the poorest country in the world by 1998. With the breakdown of all state structures, wide corridors of Sierra Leonean society were opened up to the trafficking of arms and ammunition. Recreational drugs also eroded national and regional security as well as facilitated crime within the country, precipitating illegal trade with both Liberia and Guinea. (read more . . . )

Paramount Airlines helicopter
Credit: Mihai crisan
A Paramount Airlines Mil Mi-8 helicopter at Freetown Lungi Airport (read more . . . )

• ... that education in Sierra Leone (pictured) had to recover from the destruction of 1,270 primary schools during the Sierra Leone Civil War?
• ...that despite healthcare in Sierra Leone decreasing child mortality from 302 deaths per live birth in 1990 to 282 in 2005 Sierra Leone still has the highest level child mortality in the world?
• ... that Atunda Ayenda is the first radio soap opera ever aired in Sierra Leone?
• ... that the Kpove War or Dung Pot War got its name when Ndawa had a large hole dug and filled with dung, threatening to throw any of his troops into the hole if they left battle?

Provinces: Eastern Province • Northern Province • Southern Province • Western Area

History: Kingdom of Koya • British West Africa • Sierra Leone Liberated Africans • Sierra Leone Creole Settlers • Sierra Leone Civil War • United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone

Law: Sierra Leone Police • Special Court for Sierra Leone • Truth and Reconciliation Commission • Prisons in Sierra Leone

Politics: List of Presidents • Political Parties • Parliament • Foreign relations • Elections • Military of Sierra Leone

Geography: Protected • Sierra Leone River • Western Guinean lowland forests • Outamba-Kilimi National Park • Transport

Economy: Bank of Sierra Leone • Tourism in Sierra Leone

Society: Sport • Demographics • Education • Cuisine • Media• Music

Symbols: Flag • Coat of arms • National anthem (High We Exalt Thee, Realm of the Free)

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