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Introduction:
The government is slowly reestablishing its authority after the civil war from 1991 to 2002 that resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people (about one-third of the population). The last UN peacekeepers withdrew in December 2005 leaving full responsibility for security with domestic forces. A new civilian UN mission - the UN Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) - was established to support the government's efforts to consolidate peace. The most pressing long-term threat to stability in Sierra Leone is the potential for political insecurity surrounding elections in July 2007. |
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Geography
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Climate
The tables below display average monthly climate indicators in major cities
based on 8 years of historical weather readings.
Temperature by: Centigrade
FREETOWN 8 61 N, 13 20 W, 88 feet (27 meters) above sea level.
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PEOPLE
The indigenous population is made up of 18 ethnic groups. The Temne in the north
and the Mende in the South are the largest. About 60,000 are Krio, the
descendants of freed slaves who returned to Sierra Leone from Great Britain and
North America and from slave ships captured on the high seas. In addition, about
4,000 Lebanese, 500 Indians, and 2,000 Europeans reside in the country.
In the past, Sierra Leoneans were noted for their educational achievements,
trading activity, entrepreneurial skills, and arts and crafts work, particularly
woodcarving. Many are part of larger ethnic networks extending into several
countries, which link West African states in the area. However, the level of
education and infrastructure has declined sharply over the last 30 years.
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HISTORY
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GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS
Sierra Leone is a republic with an executive president and a multi-party system
of government with a 124-seat parliament (112 elected members and 12 paramount
chiefs). Presidential and legislative elections were scheduled for July 28,
2007, but have been postponed until August 2007 to allow parliament to complete
its 5-year term and adjourn on June 25. The 2007 elections will be notable for
their return to a constituency-based system, as called for in the 1991
constitution. In preparation for the elections, Sierra Leone has redrawn
parliament?s constituency boundaries for the first time since 1985. The
incumbent Sierra Leone People?s Party (SLPP) has a strong advantage going into
these elections and maintains its traditional support in the south and east of
the country; however, population increases in the northern part of the country
and in the Western Area (where Freetown is located), may benefit the opposition
All People?s Congress (APC). In 2005, Charles Margai, a former SLPP member,
formed a new party, the People?s Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC), which
could potentially draw support away from the SLPP.
The judicial system consists of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, High Court
of Justice, and magistrate courts. The president appoints and parliament
approves justices for the three courts. Local chieftaincy courts administer
customary law with lay judges; appeals from these lower courts are heard by the
superior courts. Judicial presence outside the capital district remains limited,
which contributes to excessive delays in the justice system. Although magistrate
courts function in all 12 judicial districts, magistrates appointed to those
courts did not reside there permanently and complained that they had
insufficient resources to do their job. Justices of the peace or customary law
partially fill the gap. Civil rights and religious freedom are respected. A
critical press continues to operate, although journalists and editors are
occasionally arrested for publishing articles the government considers
inflammatory.
In 2000 the Government of Sierra Leone promulgated the Anti-Corruption Act to
combat endemic corruption. The Anti Corruption Commission has not been able to
secure convictions of high-level government officials, but has worked to raise
national awareness of the problem and build in safeguards in ?corruption
hotspot? ministries.
The basic unit of local government outside the Western Area has generally been
the chiefdom, headed by a paramount chief, who is elected for a life term. In
May 2004, however, the first local government elections in 32 years were held in
311 wards nationwide. There are now 12 district councils and 5 town councils
outside the Western Area. The Western Area has a rural area council and a city
council for Freetown, the nation?s capital. The local councils are gradually
assuming responsibility for functions previously carried out by the central
government. As devolution progresses, chiefdom and council authorities are
starting to work together to collect taxes. While district and town councils are
responsible for service delivery, chiefdom authorities maintain their own
infrastructure of police and courts, which are also funded by local taxes.
Principal Government Officials
President and Minister of Defense--Ahmad Tejan Kabbah
Vice President--Solomon Berewa
Minister of Foreign Affairs--Momodu Koroma
Minister of Finance--John Benjamin
Minister of Development and Economic Planning--Mohammed Daramy
Attorney General and Minister of Justice--Frederick Carew
Minister of Local Government and Community Development--Sidikie Brima
Minister of Information and Broadcasting--Septimus Kaikai
Minister of Internal Affairs--Pascal Egbenda
Minister of Mineral Resources--Mohamed Deen
Minister for Trade and Industry--Dr. Kadi Sesay
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security--Dr. Sama Mondeh
Minister of Energy and Power--Lloyd During
Minister of Labor--Alpha Timbo
Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children?s Affairs--Shirley Gbujama
Minister of Lands, Housing, Country Planning, and Environment--Dr. Alfred Bobson
Sesay
Minister of Marine Resources--Dr. Chernor Jalloh
Minister of Transport and Communications--Dr. Prince Harding
Minister of Works, Housing and Technical Maintenance--Dr. Caiser Boima
Minister of Health--Abbator Thomas
Minister of Tourism and Culture--Okere Adams
Central Bank Governor--Dr. James Rogers
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ECONOMY
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Military
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