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Sierra Leone
Africa
Known for its diamonds and beaches, Sierra Leone has recovered from a brutal civil war and Ebola outbreak, and is rebuilding steadily.
9,000,000
Population
71,740
Area (km²)
Freetown
Capital
30
Historical Events
Historical Timeline
Cities
30 Events
September 19, 2025 - Sierra Leone and Liberia jointly celebrate the International Day of Peace under the theme "Act Now for a Peaceful World," fostering cross-border reflection on stability.
July 13, 2025 - The Gola-Tiwai complex (Tiwai Island and Gola Rainforest National Park) is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
June 25, 2025 - The Digital Innovation Summit's second edition opens, with President Bio championing technological advancements.
June 05, 2025 - A four-day workshop on green and sustainable finance concludes in Freetown, supported by the UN Economic Commission for Africa to unlock climate funding.
June 04, 2025 - U.S. President Donald Trump issues a proclamation imposing partial travel restrictions on Sierra Leonean nationals.
May 19, 2025 - The National Health Summit and Performance Awards conclude in Freetown under the theme "Improving Health Outcomes for All," with bold commitments for resilient systems.
April 17, 2025 - The WTO conducts its third trade policy review of Sierra Leone, assessing economic and trade frameworks since 2017.
April 02, 2025 - Sierra Leone begins mpox vaccinations as cases rise.
March 07, 2025 - Immigration chief Alusine Kanneh is fired by President Bio following a leaked video of him receiving a gift from fugitive Dutch drug lord Johannes Leijdekkers.
January 13, 2025 - A state of emergency is declared after confirming two mpox cases within four days.
December 05, 2024 - A nationwide Ebola vaccination campaign is launched amid rising concerns.
September 16, 2024 - A building collapse in Freetown kills at least 10 people.
August 09, 2024 - A court-martial convicts and sentences 24 soldiers for the 2023 coup; Lieutenant Colonel Charles James Mishek Yamba gets 120 years.
July 23, 2024 - Eleven people are convicted and imprisoned for roles in the 2023 coup attempt; Amadu Koita Makalo receives 182 years as the "mastermind."
July 02, 2024 - Bio signs a bill banning child marriage into law, effective July 5, advancing gender equality efforts.
April 07, 2024 - President Bio declares a state of national emergency due to surging illegal drug use, particularly "kush," affecting youth nationwide.
January 03, 2024 - Former President Ernest Bai Koroma is charged with treason and three other offenses related to the November 2023 coup attempt.
December 31, 2023 - Throughout the year: APC boycotts governance demanding fresh elections; a peace dialogue facilitated by AU, ECOWAS, and Commonwealth ends the standoff, including releases of detainees.
November 01, 2023 - November: Armed assailants raid an armory and Pademba Road Prison in Freetown, freeing over 2,000 inmates in an alleged coup attempt; a nationwide curfew is imposed.
October 15, 2023 - Former NGC leader Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella rejoins SLPP and is appointed chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change.
September 21, 2023 - Rapper Mohamed Massaquoi (Big Fish) is shot dead by a military officer in Freetown after snatching a gun; a board of inquiry is launched.
September 11, 2023 - Protests over economic crisis lead to over 70 arrests in Freetown and other areas; police declare the gathering illegal.
September 08, 2023 - Court of Appeal grants bail to Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray, former ADP presidential candidate, after an extended sentence, fueling debates on political justice.
July 10, 2023 - President Bio reshuffles the cabinet, appointing a younger, more inclusive team with emphasis on women's empowerment.
June 24, 2023 - General elections see President Bio re-elected with 56% of votes; SLPP secures 81 parliamentary seats, while APC wins 54; APC contests results alleging irregularities.
May 24, 2023 - The historic cotton tree in Freetown collapses during heavy rain, damaging a taxi; President Julius Maada Bio vows to erect a monument at the site.
April 23, 2023 - The Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) and National Grand Coalition (NGC) form a progressive alliance, with NGC agreeing not to contest SLPP strongholds in the upcoming elections.
March 25, 2023 - Air France suspends flights to Sierra Leone indefinitely, citing low passenger numbers and high taxes post-airport opening.
March 04, 2023 - The government opens a new state-of-the-art airport terminal in Lungi, managed by Summa Airport (SL) Ltd., to improve connectivity and efficiency.
February 18, 2023 - February 18–20: The All People's Congress (APC) holds its National Delegates Conference after a court injunction is lifted; Dr. Mathew Wilson Samura Kamara wins the presidential flagbearer race with 1,382 votes against 16 rivals.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sierra Leone
100 Questions
Sierra Leone is in West Africa, bordered by Guinea, Liberia, and the Atlantic Ocean.
The capital is Freetown.
Around 9 million people as of 2025 estimates.
English is official; Krio (Creole) is widely spoken, along with Mende, Temne, Limba, and others.
Tropical, with a rainy season (May–November) and a dry season (December–April).
The Sierra Leonean leone (SLE).
Green, white, and blue horizontal stripes.
Freetown, Bo, Kenema, Koidu, and Makeni.
On April 27, 1961, from Britain.
Sir Milton Margai.
Siaka Stevens.
Julius Maada Bio (as of 2025).
A unitary presidential republic.
Temne, Mende, Limba, Kono, and Creole (Krio).
Islam (majority), followed by Christianity and traditional beliefs.
Around $6 billion in 2025 estimates.
About $650.
Around 45%.
About 61 years.
Around 4.5 children per woman.
Around 65%.
Diamonds, bauxite, rutile, cocoa, and coffee.
Fuel, machinery, food, and manufactured goods.
Diamonds, gold, bauxite, rutile, iron ore, and fertile soil.
Because of its large deposits of alluvial diamonds.
Its history as a settlement for freed slaves and its natural harbor.
The second-largest city, a commercial and educational hub.
A diamond-mining and agricultural town.
Center of Sierra Leone’s diamond trade.
Mount Bintumani (1,945 m).
Rice, cassava, fish, groundnuts, and vegetables.
A popular dish made with cassava leaves, palm oil, and meat or fish.
A peanut-based stew eaten with rice.
Palm wine, ginger beer, poyo (fermented palm sap), and tea.
Football, athletics, and boxing.
The Leone Stars.
Yes, including recent participation in 2022.
Not yet.
Mohamed Kallon, Kei Kamara, and Rodney Strasser.
Yes, in athletics and boxing.
Afrobeat, hip-hop, reggae, and traditional drumming.
A traditional style using acoustic guitars and percussion.
S.E. Rogie, Emmerson Bockarie, and Nneka (of Nigerian-Sierra Leonean heritage).
Drums, balafon, and koras.
Bubu dance, devil dance, and Temne harvest dances.
Colorful African prints, lappas, and headscarves.
They dominate in markets and farming, with growing roles in politics.
Around 40%.
Around 50%.
High, with underemployment widespread.
Over 60%.
Rice, cassava, cocoa, coffee, and palm oil.
Cattle, goats, sheep, and poultry.
Underdeveloped, with limited rural access.
Malaria, cholera, HIV/AIDS, Lassa fever, and Ebola (past outbreak).
From 2014–2016, killing thousands and devastating the economy.
High but improving.
One of the highest globally.
“High We Exalt Thee, Realm of the Free.”
“Unity, Freedom, Justice.”
The lion.
The African fish eagle.
The hibiscus.
Chimpanzees, hippos, leopards, and pygmy hippos.
Outamba-Kilimi, Gola Rainforest, and Tiwai Island.
Savannah and rainforest wildlife, including elephants.
Biodiversity and birdwatching.
Primate sanctuary with chimpanzees and colobus monkeys.
Around 55%, higher than adults.
Around $650 annually.
High but slowly declining.
Around 45%.
Mainly smallholder farmers.
Hydropower, biomass, and imported fuel.
High in hydro and solar.
Poverty, dependence on minerals, and corruption.
Healing divisions after civil war and improving governance.
A brutal conflict (1991–2002) fueled by “blood diamonds,” killing tens of thousands.
Helped end the war and supported peacekeeping (UNAMSIL).
Sent peacekeepers (ECOMOG) during the war.
Former colonial power, intervened militarily in 2000 to stabilize the country.
Invests in infrastructure and mining.
Supports health and education aid.
Key partner in trade and security.
Moderate to high, affected by imports and weak currency.
Higher along the coast and around Freetown.
Wood carving, weaving, basket making, and jewelry.
A style of music with bamboo flutes and percussion, modernized into dance music.
April 27, celebrated with parades and events.
A traditional women’s initiation society, controversial for promoting FGM.
Around 10% difference.
Around 5 years.
Lower than in rural areas.
Maternal health, malaria prevention, and infectious disease control.
Low enrollment, poor infrastructure, and gender inequality.
Around 5 people per household.
Rapid, with a very young population.
Tourism, agriculture, and services beyond mining.
White-sand beaches, islands, rainforests, and heritage sites.
It represents both the challenges of post-war recovery and the resilience of a nation rich in culture and natural resources.