the most centrally located district in sierra leone

In May 2002, Kabbah was re-elected president by a landslide. Economic Community of West African States, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, some areas around the capital of Sierra Leone, First Responder Coalition of Sierra Leone, Agency for Rural Community Transformation, female genital mutilation in Sierra Leone, "Sierra Leone 2015 Population and Housing Census National Analytical Report", "GINI index (World Bank estimate) Sierra Leone", "National Electoral Commission Press Release", "Sierra Leone unveils new geographical map", 2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Sierra Leone, "Inter-religious cooperation can be vital asset for rebuilding Sierra Leone UN expert", "The Establishment of the Sierra Leone Protectorate and the Insurrection of 1898", "Transition without Rupture: Sierra Leone's Transfer Election of 1996", "The British Experience in Africa and Oman", "Pedro da intra did not name Sierra Leone: An Exploration into available evidence", Staying Power: The History of Black People in Britain, Reconstructing the Life Histories of Liberated Africans: Sierra Leone in the Early Nineteenth Century, https://www.persee.fr/doc/cea_0008-0055_1991_num_31_121_2116, https://www.academia.edu/40720522/A_Precis_of_Sources_relating_to_genealogical_research_on_the_Sierra_Leone_Krio_people, "Reconstructing the Life Histories of Enslaved Africans: Sierra Leone, c. 180819", The International Journal of African Historical Studies, "House of Commons International Development Memoranda", "Sierra Leone Web Sierra Leonean Heroes Achievement of Independence", "Sierra Leone was ripe for Independence: Exclusive interview with Reginald Boltman", "Sierra Leone: Viewpoint Celebrating a New Nation! Instead, it borders two domestic provinces and the Atlantic Ocean. The monopoly was scheduled to last 98 years. The current Inspector General of Police is Brima Acha Kamara, who was appointed to the position by former president Ahmad Tejan Kabbah. Each district has both major and small cities and towns. The Loko in the north are native people of Sierra Leone, believed to have lived in Sierra Leone since the time of European encounter. Please select the style of the location map in the table below. [157] A 2012 study was done on the correlation between Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI), and burning biomass fuels in the home. Other minority ethnic groups are the Kuranko, who are related to the Mandingo and are largely Muslims. [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. In August 2017, one new province (Northwestern), two new districts (Falaba and Karene) and. Sandbars, generally separated by silting lagoons, sometimes form the actual coast. The Njala University is the second largest university in Sierra Leone located in Bo city. [209] As in the rest of the countries, education is a key factor in succeeding in aspects such as a well-paid job and covering the needs of a house. The Kuranko are largely Muslim majority. In response, the NPRC hired the services of South African-based private military contractor Executive Outcomes for several hundred mercenary fighters in order to strengthen the response to the advances of the RUF rebels. 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). 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. In May 1962, Sierra Leone held its first general election as an independent nation. Each has a directly elected local district council to exercise authority and carry out functions at a local level. The large majority of SLPP members backed Albert Margai over Karefa-Smart. Its numerous creeks and estuaries contain mangrove swamps. 267,266. Stevens had campaigned on a platform of bringing the tribes together under socialist principles. Islam and Christianity are the two main religions in the country. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. In 1978, the APC-dominant parliament approved a new constitution making the country a one-party state. [69] Owing to the astute politics of Milton Margai, the educated Protectorate elites were able to join forces with the paramount chiefs in the face of Krio intransigence. Njala University was established as the Njala Agricultural Experimental Station in 1910 and became a university in 2005. In 2015, CDC established an office in Sierra Leone to focus on global health security and . [156] The majority of the population relies on biomass fuels for their daily survival, with firewood and coal used most prevalently. The Aberdenn-Lumley area is a favourite destination for those venturing into the city's nightlife. Krio (derived from English and several indigenous African languages, and the language of the Sierra Leone Krio people) is the most widely spoken language in virtually all parts of Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone is bordered on the north and east by Guinea, on the south by Liberia, and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. When the Leone Stars win an important match, many youth across the county rush to the street to celebrate. In 1992, just a year after the war broke out, President Momoh was ousted in a coup led by Sierra Leone Army captain Valentine Strasser. Recently there has been an increase of Pentecostal churches, especially in Freetown. [25], Archaeological finds show that Sierra Leone has been inhabited continuously for at least 2,500 years;[27] populated successively by societies who migrated from other parts of Africa. The Mende, who are believed to be descendants of the Mane,[citation needed] originally occupied the Liberian hinterland. The AWC- Aberdeen Women's Centre in Freetown, the second busiest hospital in Sierra Leone, delivering up to 3000 babies each year. Sierra Leone's former Vice-President Alhaji Samuel Sam-Sumana is an ethnic Kono. It is estimated that there will be a 30% to 40% cost reduction on solar products with the lack of duties and taxes. GTV subsequently went out of business, leaving DStv as the only provider of subscription satellite television in the country. 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. The Yalunka also spelled Jallonke, Yalonga, Djallonk, Djallonka or Dialonk, are Mande people who have lived in the Djallon, a mountainous region in Sierra Leone, Mali, Senegal, Guinea Bissau and Guinea Conakry West Africa over 520 years ago. [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. [39] The Settlers built Freetown in the styles they knew from their lives in the American South; they also continued American fashion and American manners. Some of these policies by the SLPP and the NRC were said to have left the country in an economically deprived state.[20]. Since 1985, the nation did not conduct any census for 19 years. Many Liberated Africans were so unhappy that they risked the possibility of being sold back into slavery by leaving Sierra Leone and going back to their original villages. Rulers who had been kings and queens became instead paramount chiefs, some of them appointed by the administration, and then forced into a subordinate relationship. Loggers have extended their operations to Nimini, Kono District, Eastern Province; Jui, Western Rural District, Western Area; Loma Mountains National Park, Koinadougu, Northern Province; and with plans to start operations in the Kambui Forest reserve in the Kenema District, Eastern Province. [209] However, female household does change depending on their marital status. Poyo bars are areas of lively informal debate about politics, football, basketball, entertainment and other issues. 28,813 (2015). Now that the provinces have been divided, an exact measurement of the new provincial areas is unknown. If you are interested in the answer to the question "How many men and women are there in Koinadugu District, Sierra Leone?" The British later captured Nyagua, and he was also exiled to the Gold Coast. It is a flat, low-lying, and frequently flooded plain that is between 5 and 25 miles (8 and 40 km) wide and is composed mainly of sands and clays. Inland from the coastal plain is the interior plains region. 49,839; Regent Urban Area: pop. 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. The provinces of Sierra Leone are divided into 16 districts, as of July 2017. [24], The country takes its name from the Lion Mountains near Freetown. [39] The 64 remaining colonists established a second Granville Town.[46][47]. Humphrey J. Fisher (1969), "Elections and Coups in Sierra Leone, 1967". It is a sweet, lightly fermented palm wine,[245] and is found in bars in towns and villages across the country. They seized control of the government, arresting Lansana, and suspending the constitution. On 19 July 1975, 14 senior army and government officials, including David Lansana, former cabinet minister Mohamed Sorie Forna (father of writer Aminatta Forna), Brigadier General Ibrahim Bash Taqi and Lieutenant Habib Lansana Kamara were executed after being convicted of attempting a coup to topple president Stevens' government. The city houses the second largest university in Sierra Leone known; Njala University. 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. 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. The Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, which is located within the peninsula's vast rainforest reserve, just a few kilometres from the centre of Freetown, has a collection of rare and endangered chimpanzees. The Parliament of Sierra Leone is unicameral, with 146 seats. Several Junior army officers led by Sergeant Mohamed Lamin Bangura were identified as being behind the coup plot. [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 continue to be influential in the civil service. Riots in 1955 and 1956 involved "tens of thousands" of Sierra Leoneans in the Protectorate.[67]. A general election was called later that year in which corruption was again endemic; the APC won 74 seats and the SLPP 15. A runoff election was held in September 2007, and Ernest Bai Koroma, the candidate of the main opposition APC, was elected president. After the return to civilian rule, by-elections were held (beginning in autumn 1968) and an all-APC cabinet was appointed. These included Nigerians, Ghanaians, Ivorians and many more, especially in the fields of theology and education. Diamond mining has been an important part of Sierra Leones history since diamonds were discovered here in the 1930s. Like the Fula, the Mandinka are virtually all Muslims at over 99. The Sierra Leone Civil War resulted in the destruction of 1,270 primary schools, and in 2001, 67% of all school-age children were out of school. Sierra Leone is home to about sixteen ethnic groups, each with its own language. Bo is also headed by a mayor and governed by the city council. Dozens of soldiers were arrested and convicted by a court martial in Freetown for their participation in the mutiny against the president. Most of the proposals came from leaders of the Protectorate, whose population far outnumbered that in the colony. 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 Kissi live further inland in South-Eastern Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone has other smaller cities and towns that make up the geographic region of the country. Under President Stevens, the SSD had been a powerful personal force used to maintain his hold on power, independent from the Sierra Leone Military and Sierra Leone Police Force. Sierra Leone's highways are linked to Conakry, Guinea, and Monrovia, Liberia. The 1898 Hut Tax rebellion occurred as a response to British attempts to impose an annual tax on all houses in the country. There is a vast expanse of beaches stretching along the Freetown Peninsula. [168], After the contribution made by the Bangladesh UN Peacekeeping Force in the Sierra Leone Civil War under the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone, the government of Ahmad Tejan Kabbah declared Bengali an honorary official language in December 2002. The president appoints and parliament approves Justices for the three courts. Reference Location: Bombali District, Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone has a population of more than 7 million people and has some major cities that subdivide the country. The Eastern Province is the center of the countrys diamond mining industry. The Sierra Leonean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation is responsible for foreign policy of Sierra Leone. The Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) won a plurality of seats in parliament, and Milton Margai was re-elected as prime minister. Freetown, a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean, is the biggest and capital city of Sierra Leone. In October 2000, a UN-approved certification system for exporting diamonds from the country was put in place and led to a dramatic increase in legal exports. It is listed among countries of concern for emissions, as having Low Forest Cover with High Rates of Deforestation (LFHD). [103] The country has four distinct geographical regions. 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. 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]. It also has one of the lowest population densities in the country with just over 400,000 people recorded in the 2015 census. [158] As a result, the commercialisation of firewood and coal has been a point of contention with aid donors and government agencies such as the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources and the Forestry Division. [80] Although possessing the full backing of the country's security forces, he called for free and fair elections. 50%. Prior to conducting the election, Sierra Leoneans and international stakeholders were involved in a major debate on whether the nation should focus on trying to end the long running civil war, or to conduct elections and hence returning governance back to a civilian-led administration with a multi-party system of parliament that would provide the foundation for long-lasting peace and national prosperity. Since then, there has been a smooth succession to the presidency all via elections. Only 20% of the urban population and 1% of the rural population had access to piped drinking water in their home. 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. 50%. The SLPP leadership, led by Sir Milton Margai, negotiated with the British and the educated Krio-dominated colony based in Freetown to achieve independence. The results were that 64% of children were diagnosed with ARI where firewood stoves were used, and 44% where charcoal stoves were used. Both genders experienced and were involved in high levels of violence. 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. Four of the Sierra Leone regions are provinces, and the capital city is located on a peninsula called the Western Area. In 1951, Lamina Sankoh (born: Etheldred Jones) collaborated with educated protectorate leaders from different groups, including Sir Milton Margai, Siaka Stevens, Mohamed Sanusi Mustapha, John Karefa-Smart, Kande Bureh, Sir Albert Margai, Amadu Wurie and Sir Banja Tejan-Sie joined together with the powerful paramount chiefs in the protectorate to form the Sierra Leone People's Party or SLPP as the party of the Protectorate. However, females face gender discrimination making them the target of lower incomes and financial struggle. [217], Medical care is not readily accessible, with doctors and hospitals out of reach for many villagers. Makeni is home to Sierra Leone's incumbent President, Ernest Bai Koroma. The Mende predominate in South-Eastern Sierra Leone (with the exception of Kono District). One traditional leader from each district occupies a seat in Sierra Leone's parliament . By the 1990s, economic activity was declining and economic infrastructure had become seriously degraded. On 16 January 1996, after about four years in power, Strasser was arrested in a palace coup staged by his fellow NPRC soldiers led by Brigadier Bio at the Defence Headquarters in Freetown. What Languages Are Spoken In Sierra Leone? There are several systems of transport in Sierra Leone, which has a road, air and water infrastructure, including a network of highways and several airports. Bunce Island became a prime spot for transporting slaves to Europe and America. [66] Bureh surrendered on 11 November 1898 to end the destruction of his people's territory and dwellings. A strong free journalistic tradition developed with the creation of several newspapers. It has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup but participated in the 1994 and 1996 African Cup of Nations. They designated chiefs as units of local government, rather than dealing with them individually as had been the previous practice. Norman was a guard to Governor-general Sir Henry Lightfoot-Boston. 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. 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. He also endeavoured to change Sierra Leone from a democracy to a one-party state. The centre of the country is a region of lowland plains, containing forests, bush and farmland,[102] that occupies about 43% of Sierra Leone's land area. By 2004, the disarmament process was complete. [79] It is difficult to avoid the economic paralysis in Sierra Leone given that more than half of the population in the country is women. Sankoh was a British trained former army corporal who had also undergone guerrilla training in Libya. The rice is prepared in numerous ways, and topped with a variety of sauces made from some of Sierra Leone's favourite toppings, including potato leaves, cassava leaves, crain crain, okra soup, fried fish and groundnut stew.[244]. Hundreds of thousands of people were forced from their homes and many became refugees in Guinea and Liberia. The vast majority of Kissi are Christians. The NPRC Junta maintained relations with ECOWAS and strengthened support for Sierra Leone-based ECOMOG troops fighting in the Liberian war. Since 1985, the nation did not conduct any census for 19 years. Sierra Leone is regarded as one of the most religiously tolerant countries in the world. The central bank is the Bank of Sierra Leone. Just like Freetown and Bo, Kenema is home to an ethnically diverse population whose main dialect is the Krio language. The Hidden Discrimination Against American Roma, The 10 Largest Football Stadiums in the World (Soccer). About 2% of the country's population are Creole people, descendants of freed African-American and Afro-Caribbean slaves. The coastal swamp region extends along the . The figure for Freetown is for the Western Urban Area (Greater Freetown). [28] The use of iron was adopted by the ninth century, and by 1000 AD, agriculture was being practised along the coast. Each of the country's 14 districts is represented in parliament. Madam Yoko (c. 18491906) was a brilliant woman of culture and ambition. [256], Print media is not widely read in Sierra Leone, especially outside Freetown and other major cities, partially due to the low levels of literacy in the country. The Lumley-Aberdeen beach stretches all the way from Cape Sierra Leone down to Lumley. Other figures are estimates from the source cited. [62] Fourah Bay College soon became a magnet for Sierra Leone Creoles and other Africans seeking higher education in British West Africa. Stevens began efforts that would later improve transportation and movements between the provinces and the city of Freetown. [123], The president of Sierra Leone is the Commander in Chief of the military, with the Minister of Defence responsible for defence policy and the formulation of the armed forces. The Criminal Libel Law, including Seditious Libel Law of 1965, is used to control what is published in the media. In January 1970, Bangura was arrested and charged with conspiracy and plotting to commit a coup against the Stevens government. Non-denominational Protestants form a significant minority of Sierra Leone's Christian population. [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. The report indicated that the countrys just-concluded first digital census proves that the nations population is Seven million, five hundred and forty-eight thousand seven hundred and two (7,548,702). 208,795 (2015); Goderich - York Urban Area: pop. President Momoh appointed his former military colleague and key ally, Major General Mohamed Tarawalie to succeed him as the head of the Sierra Leone Military. The Western Area is divided into two districts. Annual production of Sierra Leone's diamond estimates range between US$250 million$300million. Outside the capital Freetown and other major cities, television is not watched by a great many people, although Bo, Kenema and Makeni are served by their own relays of the main SLBC service. Within days, Freetown was overwhelmed by the presence of the RUF combatants who came to the city in thousands. Surveys of the religious make up of Sierra Leone vary widely, though Muslims make up the majority of the population. Port Loko District is a district in the North West Province of Sierra Leone. With a new decentralisation policy, embodied in the Local Government Act of 2004, responsibility for water supply in areas outside the capital was passed from the central government to local councils. The Limba are about 60% Christian and 40% Muslims. The six municipalities include Freetown, which functions as the local government for the Western Area Urban District, and Bo, Bonthe, Kenema, Koidu, and Makeni.[133][135][136]. Brooklyn Museum. Sierra Leone has one of the world's largest deposits of rutile, a titanium ore used as paint pigment and welding rod coatings. 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. [126][127] The RSLMF remained a single-service organisation until 1979, when the Sierra Leone Navy was established. 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. After a trial that lasted a few months, Bangura was convicted and sentenced to death. 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. He was neither corrupt nor did he make a lavish display of his power or status. Sierra Leone's third president, Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, and Sierra Leone's first Vice-President, Sorie Ibrahim Koroma, were both ethnic Mandingo. The situation in the country deteriorated to such an extent that British troops were deployed in Operation Palliser, originally simply to evacuate foreign nationals. An alleged plot to overthrow president Stevens failed in 1974 and its leaders were executed. Based on the commission's recommendations, a constitution re-establishing a multi-party system was approved by the exclusive APC Parliament by a 60% majority vote, becoming effective on 1 October 1991.