| During the slave trading period, Sierra Leone was a haven for
freed slaves. Founded by British philanthropists, the country remained
a British colonly for more than two centuries. Sierre Leone gained
independence in 1961, at the beginning of the African decolonization
movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Since independence, Sierra Leone
has been politically troubled. After seventeen years of political
turmoil, it was reorganized as a one-party state in 1978. In 1985,
President Siaka Stevens resigned, naming Gen. Joseph Momoh the
new president. Momoh agreed to establish a multi-party democracy,
and a new Constitution was ratified in 1991. However, before elections
could be held, Major Valentin Strasser ousted Momoh in a military
coup. His aide, Maada Bio ousted Strasser shortly thereafter. In
1996, elections finally occurred. On March 29, 1996, President
Ahmed Tejan Kabbah took office. But he fled the country after another
coup in May 1997.
Since 1991, civil war between the government and the Revolutionary
United Front (RUF) has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths
and displacement of more than 2 million people (well over one-third
of the population) many of whom are now refugees in neighboring
countries. A peace agreement, signed in July 1999, collapsed
in May 2000 after the RUF took over 500 UN peacekeepers hostage.
The RUF stepped up attacks on Guinea in December 2000, despite
a cease-fire that it signed with the Freetown government one
month earlier. Up to 13,000 UN peacekeepers were protecting the
capital and key towns in the south as of late 2000. A UK force
of 750 was helping to reinforce security and train the Sierra
Leone army.
This collection of internet sources provides access to selected
sites that provide general descriptive information on the history,
government, economy, and political conditions of Sierra Leone.
Although selective, inclusion of a site by no means constitutes
endorsement by either the African and Middle Eastern Division
or the Area Studies Directorate of the Library of Congress. Every
source listed here was successfully tested before being added
to the list. Users, however, should be aware that a successful
connection may sometimes require several attempts.
For Library of Congress contact information and additional research
and bibliographic materials on Sierra Leone consult the Library's
African Section Sierra
Leone Country Web page.
Background
Notes. U.S. Department
of State (http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/)
‘Background Notes provide information on US relations with African nations, political and economic trends, and travel advisories.’
Flag of The Republic of Sierra Leone (http://www.flags.net/SILE.htm)
World Factbook. U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. Sierra Leone (https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.htmlgeos/sl.html)
Provides a map and general reference information on the geography, people, government, and
economy of Sierra Leone.
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