Located in the Northern Province is Makeni city which is the capital of Bombali district and the largest city and economic center in the Province. Sierra Leone is bordered on the north and east by Guinea, on the south by Liberia, and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. [48] In 1792, in a move that foreshadowed the women's suffrage movements in Britain, the heads of all households, of which a third were women, were given the right to vote. 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. The name Yalunka literally means "inhabitants of the Jallon (mountains)". Waterloo is a major urban transport hub and lies on the . The population of all Sierra Leonean cities and urban localities with more than 7.000 inhabitants according to census results. Hundreds of thousands of people were forced from their homes and many became refugees in Guinea and Liberia. Most of the proposals came from leaders of the Protectorate, whose population far outnumbered that in the colony. The climate is tropical, with two seasons determining the agricultural cycle: the rainy season from May to November, and a dry season from December to May, which includes harmattan, when cool, dry winds blow in off the Sahara Desert and the night-time temperature can be as low as 16C (60.8F). Strasser was later ousted by his army colleague and second-in-command Julius Maada Bio, for failing to commit to a quick transfer to civilian rule. 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. The Kru predominate in the Kroubay neighbourhood in the capital of Freetown. [201] Many Christian organisations in Sierra Leone, including the Council of Churches condemned Ajisafe's sermon against Islam and Muslims. This sort of representation was not available in Nova Scotia. The Susu and Yalunka are both descendants of migrants from Guinea; they both are virtually all Muslims at over 99%. One traditional leader from each district occupies a seat in Sierra Leone's parliament. In total, there are 20 cities in Sierra Leone. Other minority ethnic groups are the Kuranko, who are related to the Mandingo and are largely Muslims. The APC, with its leader Siaka Stevens, narrowly won a small majority of seats in Parliament over the SLPP in a closely contested 1967 general election. [258] Among newspaper readership, young people are likely to read newspapers weekly and older people daily. The ratio of men and women in Koinadugu District, Sierra Leone. Only 20% of the urban population and 1% of the rural population had access to piped drinking water in their home. [187] The United Council of Imams, is an influential Islamic religious body in Sierra Leone, that is made up of all imams of mosques throughout Sierra Leone. [156] Previous to this compact agreement, Sierra Leone's private sector for solar energy was weak, as it provided energy to less than 5% of the target population. The large majority of SLPP members backed Albert Margai over Karefa-Smart. The Paramount Chiefs are influential, particularly in villages and small rural towns. Manga Sewa was born in Falaba, Solima chiefdom, in the Northern Province of British Sierra Leone to Yalunka parents. [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. When the ships left them in September, their numbers had been reduced to "276 persons, namely 212 black men, 30 black women, 5 white men and 29 white women". Helicopters are also available from the airport to other major cities in the country. [133][134] In total, there are 19 local councils: 13 district councils, one for each of the 12 districts and one for the Western Area Rural, and six municipalities also have elected local councils. 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. [86] SSD officers were loyal to Stevens and were deployed across the country to clamp down on any rebellion or protest against Stevens' government. [17], The geographic area has been inhabited for millennia, but Sierra Leone, as the country and its borders are known today, was founded by the British Crown in two phases: first, the coastal Sierra Leone Colony in 1808 (for returning Africans after the abolition of slavery); second, the inland Protectorate in 1896 (as the Crown needed to establish more dominion inland following the outcome of the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885). Credit card use is limited in Sierra Leone, though they may be used at some hotels and restaurants. As the sole candidate, Momoh was elected president without opposition and sworn in as Sierra Leone's second president on 28 November 1985 in Freetown. Koidu Town is home to two of the ten most rough and largest diamonds in the world and was found in the Woyie River which flows through the city. As a result, Albert Margai became unpopular in the Creole community, many of whom had supported Sir Milton. Roads and hospitals were constructed in the provinces, and Paramount Chiefs and provincial peoples became a prominent force in Freetown. One traditional leader from each district occupies a seat in Sierra Leone's parliament . Antagonism between the two entities escalated to a heated debate in 1947, when proposals were introduced to provide for a single political system for both the Colony and the Protectorate. [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 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. [39] However, on the voyage between Plymouth, England and Sierra Leone, seventy European girlfriends and wives accompanied the Black Poor settlers. In 2008, CDC began supporting Sierra Leone's HIV response through the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). In 2001, the government created a mining community development fund (DACDF), which returns a portion of diamond export taxes to diamond mining communities. The British later captured Nyagua, and he was also exiled to the Gold Coast. The president is the highest and most influential position within the government of Sierra Leone. The Eastern Province is the center of the countrys diamond mining industry. 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. Highlighting the specifics, the report shows that women still make up the majority of Sierra Leones population at three million, eight hundred and twenty thousand, nine hundred and fifty-five (3,820,955) which is 50.6% of the total population. The other ethnic groups are the Mandingo (also known as Mandinka). Although the sector was seriously affected during the Civil War, there has been a steady improvement in recent years. The country had its first general elections as an independent nation on 27 May 1961. 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. [62] Fourah Bay College soon became a magnet for Sierra Leone Creoles and other Africans seeking higher education in British West Africa. He was neither corrupt nor did he make a lavish display of his power or status. Bio would then return the country back to a democratic republic in 1996 through a general election. . In 2018, Sierra Leone held a general election. [21] "Peace before Elections vs Elections before Peace" became a key debate topic and this quickly became a point of national discussion. The currency is the leone. [22][23], About 18 ethnic groups inhabit Sierra Leone; the two largest and most influential ones are the Temne and Mende peoples. [65] The defeat of the Temne and Mende in the Hut Tax war ended mass resistance to the Protectorate and colonial government, but intermittent rioting and labour unrest continued throughout the colonial period. The Maliki school is by far the largest and most dominant Islamic school of jurisprudence across Sierra Leone. The Parliament of Sierra Leone is unicameral, with 146 seats. The Christian holidays of Christmas, Boxing Day, Good Friday and Easter are also national holidays in Sierra Leone. [202] Catholics are the largest group of non-Protestant Christians in Sierra Leone, forming about 8% of Sierra Leone's population and 26% of the Christian population in Sierra Leone. It made its international debut at the 2004 African Affiliates Championship, where it finished last of eight teams. To be elected president of Sierra Leone, a candidate must gain at least 55% of the vote. What Are The Biggest Industries In Sierra Leone? However, the British exceeded their original mandate and took full military action to finally defeat the rebels and restore order. The Sierra Leone Police is headed by the Inspector General of Police, the professional head of the Sierra Leone Police force, who is appointed by the president of Sierra Leone. Area: 77.1 mile - 124.1 km radius. The country has a population of 7,092,113 as of the 2015 census. [228], One of the consequences women in Sierra Leone face after a prolonged and obstructed labour that would have required a c-section is obstetric fistula. [242], 37 per cent of married women in Sierra Leone were in polygamous marriages in 2008. By the 1990s, economic activity was declining and economic infrastructure had become seriously degraded. Karefa-Smart led a prominent small minority faction within the SLPP party in opposition of Albert Margai as Prime Minister. Following the 1995 National Consultative Conference at the Bintumani Hotel in Freetown, dubbed "Bintumani I", which was a Strasser-led initiative, another National Consultative Conference at the same Bintumani Hotel in Freetown, dubbed "Bintumani II", was initiated by the Bio administration that involved both national and international stakeholders, in an effort to find a viable solution to the issues plaguing the country. Other minor political parties have also existed but with no significant support.[117]. The district has the highest percentage, a total of 10.2%, making it the most populated in the country. Another 24 were discharged, and another 23 ran away. The Kono are descendants of migrants from Guinea; today their workers are known primarily as diamond miners. [79] With the lack of technology, mostly in all Sierra Leone, it is hard to help a business to function. [103] As a result of migration to cities, the population is becoming more urban with an estimated rate of urbanisation growth of 2.9% a year. 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. The Sierra Leone constitution guarantees freedom of speech, and freedom of the press; however, the government maintains strong control of media, and at times restricts these rights in practice. 130,725. Inland from the coastal plain is the interior plains region. In 1808, Sierra Leone became a British crown colony, ruled under a colonial governor. [131] Typically, chiefs have the power to "raise taxes, control the judicial system, and allocate land, the most important resource in rural areas. In 2015, CDC established an office in Sierra Leone to focus on global health security and . 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. Rich in minerals, Sierra Leone has relied on mining, especially diamonds, for its economic base. The districts are further divided into 190 chiefdoms, which perform some local government functions. Until 2017, there were only three Sierra Leone provinces, and there were previously fewer districts and chiefdoms as well. The vast majority of Limba support the All People's Congress (APC) political party. The Limba are primarily found in Northern Sierra Leone, particularly in Bombali, Kambia and Koinadugu District. [81], On 18 April 1968 a group of low ranking soldiers in the Sierra Leone Army who called themselves the Anti-Corruption Revolutionary Movement (ACRM), led by Brigadier General John Amadu Bangura, overthrew the NRC junta. [49] Black settlers in Sierra Leone enjoyed much more autonomy than their white equivalent in European countries. The northern section of this has been categorised by the World Wildlife Fund as part of the Guinean forest-savanna mosaic ecoregion, while the south is rain-forested plains and farmland. Like the neighbouring Temne, the Loko are Muslim majority. Sierra Leone as a country lies between latitude and longitude 12.2 degrees west and 8.5 degrees north respectively. 2020-02-06 Bumbuna is a town in the central of Tonkolili District in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone. "Female Genital Cutting: Current Practices and Beliefs in Western Africa." 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. [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. With the emergence of the slave trade, human trafficking became the major commodity and indigenes were sold as slaves. One traditional leader from each district occupies a seat in Sierra Leone's parliament. There were thousands of these Black Loyalists, people of African descent who joined the British military forces during the American Revolutionary War. This is where Freetown is located, and its also the smallest district in size by a large margin. [218], A dialysis machine, the first of its kind in the country, was donated by Israel.[219]. In the late 18th century, many African Americans claimed the protection of the British Crown. A heavily armed military manhunt was carried out across the country to find Lieutenant Sandy's killer. The other airports have unpaved runways, and seven have runways from 914 to 1,523 metres (2,999 to 4,997 feet) long; the remaining two have shorter runways. The Temne predominate in the Northern Sierra Leone and some areas around the capital of Sierra Leone. [230] The centre provides free surgery for women suffering from this condition. According to a 2020 estimates by the Pew Research Center[175] 78.5% of Sierra Leone's population are Muslims (mostly Sunni), 20.4% are Christians (mostly Protestants) and 1.1% belong to a traditional African religion or other beliefs. The Vai are largely Muslim majority at about 90%, while the Kru are virtually all Christians at over 99%. [153] In the 1970s and early 1980s, economic growth rate slowed because of a decline in the mining sector and increasing corruption among government officials. There are five hundred Ahmadiyya Mosque across Sierra Leone. The overwhelming majority of Sierra Leonean Muslims, are adherent to the Sunni tradition of Islam in practice. 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. "Gbendembu" had a larger population of 12,139 in that census. Two other commercial TV operators (ABC and AIT) closed after they were not profitable. [158] There have been strong pushes for both solar and hydropower to become the dominant sources of energy in Sierra Leone because of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, particularly goal number seven (affordable and clean energy). There are three free terrestrial television stations in Sierra Leone, one run by the government SLBC and the other two are private stations in Freetown, Star TV which is run by the owner of the Standard-Times newspaper and AYV Africa Young Voices. The current acting chief justice of Sierra Leone is Desmond Babatunde Edwards. The upper part of the drainage basin of the Moa River is located in the south of this region. After taking over, President Kabbah immediately opened dialogue with the RUF and invited their leader Foday Sankoh for peace negotiations.[22]. Four provinces are further divided into 14 districts; the Western Area is divided into two districts. The three districts of the North West Province are: Sierra Leones Western Area is the only region in the country to not have an international border. 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. However, on 23 March 1967, a group of military officers in the Sierra Leone Army led by Brigadier General Andrew Juxon-Smith, staged a counter coup against Commander Lansana. While free health care may be provided in some villages, the medical staff is poorly paid and sometimes charge for their services, taking advantage of the fact that the villagers are not aware of their right to free medical care. 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]. Stevens held on to this position for 14 years (until 1985) under a one-party system of government facilitated by the controversial 1978 Constitution. 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