Sierra LeoneSierra Leone

Sierra LeoneSierra Leone, on , on the Atlantic the Atlantic Ocean in WestOcean in West Africa, is half Africa, is half the size of the size of Illinois. Guinea, Illinois. Guinea, in the north and in the north and east, and Liberia, east, and Liberia, in the south, are in the south, are its neighbors. Mangrove its neighbors. Mangrove swamps lie along the coast, swamps lie along the coast, with wooded hills and a with wooded hills and a plateau in the interior. The plateau in the interior. The eastern region is eastern region is mountainous.mountainous.

Port city and commercial Port city and commercial hub. hub. It became capital in 1961.It became capital in 1961.

Freetown, Sierra LeoneFreetown, Sierra Leone

A common method of government A common method of government fund-raising is selling postage fund-raising is selling postage stamps to collectorsstamps to collectors

FreetownFreetown

In 1787 the English transferred 351 freed slaves and European settlers to the area now known as Sierra Leone. A Creole society was born from this, which collected in Free Town.

Archaeological findsArchaeological finds

Serra Leoa

Shown in the rough is the third largest Shown in the rough is the third largest diamond ever found, weighing nearly a diamond ever found, weighing nearly a half a pound in the rough.half a pound in the rough.

Star Of Sierra LeoneStar Of Sierra Leone

Half the size of Illinois, Half the size of Illinois, Sierra Leone is trying to Sierra Leone is trying to recover from a devastating recover from a devastating civil war also known as the civil war also known as the “Diamond Conflict” which “Diamond Conflict” which killed thousands and killed thousands and displaced 2 million people in displaced 2 million people in 1991-93.1991-93.

This seventeen-year-old lost both hands to rebels’ machetes.

Sierra Leone

Timeline: Sierra Leone17871787 - - British abolitionists and philanthropists establish British abolitionists and philanthropists establish a settlement in Freetown for repatriated and rescued slaves.a settlement in Freetown for repatriated and rescued slaves.18081808 - - Freetown settlement becomes crown colony. Freetown settlement becomes crown colony. 18961896 - - Britain sets up a protectorate over the Freetown hinterland. Britain sets up a protectorate over the Freetown hinterland. 19611961 - - Sierra Leone becomes independent. Sierra Leone becomes independent. 19671967 - - Military coup deposes Premier Siaka Stevens' government. Military coup deposes Premier Siaka Stevens' government. 19681968 - - Siaka Stevens returns to power at the head of a civilian Siaka Stevens returns to power at the head of a civilian government following another military coup. government following another military coup. 19781978 - - New constitution proclaims Sierra Leone a one-party state New constitution proclaims Sierra Leone a one-party state with the All People's Congress as the sole legal party. with the All People's Congress as the sole legal party. 19851985 - - Major-General Joseph Saidu Momoh becomes president Major-General Joseph Saidu Momoh becomes president following Stevens's retirement. following Stevens's retirement. 19871987 - - Momoh declares state of economic emergency. Momoh declares state of economic emergency. 19911991 - - Start of civil war. Former army corporal Foday Sankoh and Start of civil war. Former army corporal Foday Sankoh and his Revolutionary United Front (RUF) begin campaign against his Revolutionary United Front (RUF) begin campaign against President Momoh, capturing towns on border with Liberia. President Momoh, capturing towns on border with Liberia.

Links to Sierra LeoneLinks to Sierra Leone• http://us-africa.tripod.com/sierra.html