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Sierra Leone

Introduction to Sierra Leone

The 1991 to 2002 civil war between the government and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people (well over one-third of the population), many of whom are now refugees in neighboring countries. With the support of the UN peacekeeping force and contributions from the World Bank and international community, demobilization and disarmament of the RUF and Civil Defense Forces (CDF) combatants has been completed. National elections were held in May 2002 and the government continues to slowly reestablish its authority. However, the gradual withdrawal of most UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) peacekeepers in 2004 and the tenuous security situation in neighboring Liberia may present challenges to the continuation of Sierra Leone's stability.

Government

Capital:

Freetown 

Independence:

27 April 1961 (from UK) 

National holiday:

Independence Day, 27 April (1961) 

Economy

Economy overview:

Sierra Leone is an extremely poor African nation with tremendous inequality in income distribution. It does have substantial mineral, agricultural, and fishery resources. However, the economic and social infrastructure is not well developed, and serious social disorders continue to hamper economic development, following a 11-year civil war. About two-thirds of the working-age population engages in subsistence agriculture. Manufacturing consists mainly of the processing of raw materials and of light manufacturing for the domestic market. Plans continue to reopen bauxite and rutile mines shut down during the conflict. The major source of hard currency consists of the mining of diamonds. The fate of the economy depends upon the maintenance of domestic peace and the continued receipt of substantial aid from abroad, which is essential to offset the severe trade imbalance and to supplement government revenues. 

GDP:

purchasing power parity - $3.057 billion (2004 est.) 

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 49%
industry: 31%
services: 21% (2001 est.) 

Agriculture products:

rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish 

Industries:

mining (diamonds); small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining 

Transportation

Highways:

total: 11,330 km
paved: 895 km
unpaved: 10,435 km (1999)

Waterways:

800 km (2003)

Ports and harbors:

Bonthe, Freetown, Pepel

Merchant marine:

total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 7,435 GRT/8,750 DWT
by type: cargo 2 (2003 est.)

Airports:

10 (2003 est.)