![]() |
SIERRA LEONE
Background:Since 1991, civil war between the government and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people , many of whom are now refugees in neighboring countries. After several setbacks, the end to the 11-year conflict in Sierra Leone may finally be near at hand. With the support of the UN peacekeeping force and contributions from the World Bank and international community, demobilization and disarmament of the RUF and Civil Defense Forces (CDF) combatants has been completed.
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia
Geographic coordinates: 8 30 N, 11 30 W
Area: 71,740 sq km
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April)
Coastline: 402 km
Population: 5,883,889(July 2004 est.)
Ethnic groups: 20 native African tribes 90%, Creole (Krio) 10%, refugees fromLiberia's recent civil war, small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians
Languages: English , Mende , Temne , Krio
Economy:Sierra Leone is an extremely poor African nation with tremendous inequality in income distribution. It does have substantial mineral, agricultural, and fishery resources. About two-thirds of the working-age population engages in subsistence agriculture. Manufacturing consists mainly of the processing of raw materials and of light manufacturing for the domestic market. Plans continue to reopen bauxite and rutile mines shut down during the conflict. The major source of hard currency consists of the mining of diamonds.
Conventional long form: Republic of Sierra Leone
Government type: constitutional democracy
Capital: Freetown
Administrative divisions:3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern, Southern, Western*
Independence: 27 April 1961 (from UK)
Legal system:based on English law and customary laws indigenous to local tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Religions:Muslim 60%, indigenous beliefs 30%, Christian 10%
Natural resources: diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite
7/13/2008
|
![]() |
