Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone A tropical West African country with an Atlantic coast facing south-west and a fine natural harbour; it is surrounded inland by Guinea and Liberia.

Physical

Swamps spread up river valleys, through a rainforested coastal plain to wooded savannah in the interior.

Economy

The leading exports are rutile, diamonds, bauxite, cocoa, and coffee; smuggling of gold and diamonds is widespread. In agriculture, the main cash crops are cocoa and coffee, and the main staple crops are cassava, rice, and plantains. Industry is confined to food-processing and other light industry.

History

The Portuguese navigator Pedro de Cintra reached it in 1462, at about the time the Temne, its chief inhabitants, were reaching the coast. During the 16th and 17th centuries the slave trade and piracy attracted many Europeans, including English, so that the coast has a very mixed population. In 1772 Britain declared that any escaped slave who came to Britain would automatically become free. In 1787 the Anti-Slavery Society bought the coastal territory from the local ruler as a haven for slaves found destitute in Britain. British philanthropists organized their transport to Cape Sierra Leone, where Freetown was established. In 1791 Alexander Falconbridge formed a transport company, the Sierra Leone Company, landing the first colonists at Freetown in 1792. It became a crown colony in 1808. After 1815 British warships who captured slave ships brought freed captives there. During the 19th century the hinterland of Sierra Leone was gradually explored and in 1896 it became a British protectorate, which remained separate from the colony of Freetown until 1951. The country gained its independence under Prime Minister Sir Milton Margai (1895–1964) in 1961, but after his death electoral difficulties produced two military coups before some stability was restored by the establishment of a one-party state under Dr Siaka Stevens. Food shortages, corruption, and tribal tensions produced serious violence in the early 1980s, and in 1985 Stevens retired in favour of Major-General Joseph Saidu Momoh. As head of state, he retained a civilian cabinet with the All People's Congress (APC) the sole legal party; its rule was deeply corrupt. In April 1992 an army coup, led by Captain Valentine Strasser, ousted Saidu Momoh and formed a National Provisional Defence Council, committed to the elimination of corruption and the restoration of the economy. Although the ban on political parties imposed in 1992 was lifted in 1995, actions by rebel forces opposed to the government intensified. In 1996 Strasser was ousted by his deputy, Captain Julius Bio, who took over as head of state. In March 1996 democratic elections were won by Ahmad Tejan Kabbah who became President of a civilian government. This government was overthrown in a military coup in 1997, but Nigerian forces retook the capital in 1998 and the President was reinstated. However, later in 1998 members of the deposed military regime joined by the left-wing Revolutionary United Front attacked Freetown causing considerable damage. The Nigerians returned to rout the rebels in January 1999.

Capital:	Freetown
Area:	71,740 sq km (27,699 sq miles)
Population:	4,577,000 (1998 est)
Currency:	1 leone = 100 cents
Religions:	Traditional beliefs 51.5%; Sunni Muslim 39.4%; Protestant 4.7%; Roman Catholic 2.2%; Anglican 1.2%
Ethnic Groups:	Mende 46.0%; Temne 45.0%
Languages:	English (official); Krio (English creole); Mende; Temne, other local languages
International Organizations:	UN; OAU; ECOWAS; Commonwealth