Male same-sex sexual activity is illegal under Section 61 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861, and imprisonment for life is possible. Some of Sierra Leonean international footballers include Mohamed Kallon, Mohamed Bangura, Rodney Strasser, Kei Kamara, Ibrahim Teteh Bangura, Mustapha Dumbuya, Christian Caulker, Alhassan Bangura, Sheriff Suma, Osman Kakay, Mohamed Kamara, Umaru Bangura and Julius Gibrilla Woobay. The third-largest ethnic group are the Limba at about 8.4% of the population. The central African countries are the most prevalent of EVD; like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Uganda, and Gabon[239], In 2014 there was an outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa. One of the most popular tourist destinations in Sierra Leone is located in this province: Outamba-Kilimi National Park. The districts are further divided into 190 chiefdoms, which perform some local government functions. In March 1976, Stevens was elected without opposition for a second five-year term as president. 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. The population of all Sierra Leonean cities and urban localities with more than 7.000 inhabitants according to census results. Sierra Leone has good relations with the West, including the United States, and has maintained historical ties with the United Kingdom and other former British colonies through its membership of the Commonwealth of Nations. 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. Sierra Leone is regarded as one of the most religiously tolerant countries in the world. Freetown The British Crown reorganised the Sierra Leone Company as the African Institution; it was directed to improve the local economy. Sierra Leone is rich in natural resources, especially diamond, gold, bauxite and aluminium. Sandbars, generally separated by silting lagoons, sometimes form the actual coast. [32], European contacts within Sierra Leone were among the first in West Africa during the 15th century. [54] Though some people happily embraced these changes because they considered it as being part of the community, some were not happy with these changes and wanted to keep their own identity. No style is the best. The United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) ran one of the most popular stations in the country, broadcasting programs in a range of languages. The Loko in the north are native people of Sierra Leone, believed to have lived in Sierra Leone since the time of European encounter. There are several main internet service providers (ISPs) operating in the country. Many of the national team footballers are celebrities across Sierra Leone and they are often well known by the general population. 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. Sierra Leone's former Vice-President Alhaji Samuel Sam-Sumana is an ethnic Kono. She used diplomacy to communicate with many local chiefs who did not trust her friendship with the British. The vast majority of Kissi are Christians. In the 1860s, the country became a journalist hub for Africa, with professionals travelling to the country from across the continent. Freetown was known as the "Athens of Africa" due to the large number of excellent schools in Freetown and surrounding areas. [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. There are 800km (497mi) of waterways in Sierra Leone, of which 600km (373mi) are navigable year-round. This merger eventually happened in 2011 after the necessary legislation was enacted. [103] The country's population is mostly young, with an estimated 41.7% under 15, and rural, with an estimated 62% of people living outside the cities. Freetown, a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean, is the biggest and capital city of Sierra Leone. Lieutenant Sandy was given a state funeral and his funeral prayers service at the cathedral church in Freetown was attended by many high-ranking soldiers of the NPRC junta, including Strasser himself and NPRC deputy leader Sergeant Solomon Musa. He was a close ally of Albert Margai, who had appointed him to the position in 1964. [264] The city has a lot to offer to tourists. Stevens had campaigned on a platform of bringing the tribes together under socialist principles. Bai Sherbro was captured and with Bai Bureh, exiled to the Gold Coast (modern Ghana). Because of their trading, the Fulas are found in nearly all parts of the country. Like Stevens, Momoh was also a member of the minority Limba ethnic group. At the same time, he sent warriors to assist Bai Bureh in fighting against the British. Taylor's aim was for the RUF to attack the bases of Nigerian dominated peacekeeping troops in Sierra Leone who were opposed to his rebel movement in Liberia. [223], Sierra Leone suffers from epidemic outbreaks of diseases, including yellow fever, cholera, Ebola, lassa fever and meningitis. Nearly 20,000 Liberian refugees voluntarily returned to Liberia over the course of 2007. 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. Covering a total area of 71,740km2 (27,699sqmi),[12] Sierra Leone has a tropical climate, with diverse environments ranging from savanna to rainforests. Freetown is Sierra Leone's political, economic, cultural, financial, and educational center. Sierra Leone's third president, Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, and Sierra Leone's first Vice-President, Sorie Ibrahim Koroma, were both ethnic Mandingo. The situation is particularly serious as fishing provides the only source of income for many communities in a country still recovering from over a decade of civil war.[112]. What Languages Are Spoken In Sierra Leone? Unpublished master's dissertation (London: Open University, 2013), pp. Ebola is prevalent in Africa where social and economic inequalities are common. [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). It is the most populous District in the North and the second most populous District in Sierra Leone, after the Western Area Urban District. Although women account for about 50 per cent of the population in Sierra Leone, only 28 per cent are household heads. [226], In the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted by UNICEF in 2012, the prevalence of female genital mutilation in Sierra Leone was 94%. [233], Mental healthcare in Sierra Leone is almost non-existent. The 1898 Hut Tax rebellion occurred as a response to British attempts to impose an annual tax on all houses in the country. The British fired first; the northern front of mainly Temne people was led by Bai Bureh. The land was also home to the Temee and Loko peoples, whose presence predates the arrival of Europeans. For example, some of the Liberated Africans were forced to change their name to a more Western sounding one. One source estimates the population at 14,915,[173] whilst another puts it as high as 85,313. There is high unemployment, particularly among the youth and ex-combatants. The current members of the Parliament of Sierra Leone were elected in the 2012 Sierra Leone parliamentary election. [121] Sierra Leone is a member of the International Criminal Court with a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the US military (as covered under Article 98). In the north, it comprises featureless seasonal swamps known as Bolilands (boli being a Temne word for those lands that are flooded in the rainy season and dry and hard in the dry season and on which only grass can grow). The Western Area Urban District is one of the 16 districts of Sierra Leone. Krio is the most widely spoken language across Sierra Leone, spoken by 97% of the country's population. 267,827. The Fula are virtually all Muslims at over 99%. 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. [159] It is located near the Seli River and Freetown and was estimated to produce about 50 megawatts of electricity. 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. The Temne predominate in the Northern Sierra Leone and some areas around the capital of Sierra Leone. The Lumley-Aberdeen beach stretches all the way from Cape Sierra Leone down to Lumley. The current Sierra Leonean Defence Minister is retired Major Alfred Paolo Conteh. On the coast in Bonthe District in the south are the Sherbro. The city was established by Lieutenant John Clarkson, African American ex-slaves and free people known as the Nova Scotian Settlers on March 11th, 1792, making Freetown the oldest capital created by African Americans. The provinces of Sierra Leone are divided into 14 districts. The standard of print journalism tends to be low owing to lack of training, and people trust the information published in newspapers less than that found on the radio.[257]. Sherbro also sent fighters to assist Bai Bureh in the fight against the British. [20] Much trust was placed upon him as he championed multi-party politics. Inland from the coastal plain is the interior plains region. Next in proportion are the Kono, who live primarily in Kono District in Eastern Sierra Leone. The first of the 6,000-member force began arriving in December, and the UN Security Council voted in February 2000 to increase the force to 11,000, and later to 13,000. Originally named Serra Leoa (Portuguese for 'lioness mountains') by Portuguese explorer Pedro de Sintra in 1462, the modern name is derived from the Italian spelling, which was introduced by Venetian explorer Alvise Cadamosto and subsequently copied by other European mapmakers. The presidential election, in which neither candidate reached the required threshold of 55%, went to a second round of voting, in which Julius Maada Bio was elected with 51% of the vote. Strasser replaced Musa as deputy NPRC chairman with Captain Bio, who was instantly promoted by Strasser to brigadier. In 1924, the UK government divided the administration of Sierra Leone into Colony and Protectorate, with different political systems constitutionally defined for each. 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. 2004 saw a population of four million, nine hundred and seventy-six thousand eight hundred and seventy-one (4,976,871) and in the 2015 census Sierra Leone recorded a total population of seven million and ninety-two thousand, one hundred and thirteen (7,092,113), the last census before the latest mid-term population and housing census which indicated a total of eight hundred and forty-three thousand two hundred and fifty-four (843,254) residential buildings, whilst for non-residential a total of seven thousand five hundred and three ( 7,503). Just like Freetown and Bo, Kenema is home to an ethnically diverse population whose main dialect is the Krio language. [88] Two thirds of the adult population of the country are illiterate.[212]. [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. A key indicator of success will be the effectiveness of government management of its diamond sector. Makeni is also governed by a directly elected city council that is headed by the Mayor. [80] Although possessing the full backing of the country's security forces, he called for free and fair elections. [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. 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). [222] Between June and July 2019, the FRCSL trained 1,000 community members from Makeni to be first responders and equipped each trainee with a first aid kit. Together these peoples formed the Krio ethnicity and an English-based creole language, (Krio), which is the lingua franca and de facto national language used among many of the ethnicities in the country. [254][255], Under legislation enacted in 1980, all newspapers must register with the Ministry of Information and pay sizeable registration fees. [28] The use of iron was adopted by the ninth century, and by 1000 AD, agriculture was being practised along the coast. The much smaller Vai and Kru peoples are primarily found in Kailahun and Pujehun Districts near the border with Liberia. It is the second-most important city in terms of transportation, economy, and education after Freetown. The district capital is the town of Port Loko and its . 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