Country profile: Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone, in West Africa, emerged from a decade of civil war in 2002, with the help of Britain, the former colonial power, and a large United Nations peacekeeping mission.

More than 17,000 foreign troops disarmed tens of thousands of rebels and militia fighters. The country now faces the challenge of reconstruction.

Overview

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• Facts
• Leaders
• Media

A lasting feature of the war, in which tens of thousands died, was the atrocities committed by the rebels, whose trademark was to hack off the hands or feet of their victims.

AT-A-GLANCE Politics: Sierra Leone is recovering from a 10-year civil war which ended in 2002; war centred around a power struggle and had a regional dimension Economics: Sierra Leone is bottom of UN's league for human development Timeline

A UN-backed war crimes court has been set up to try those, from both sides, who bear the greatest responsibility for the brutalities.

The country is still considered a fragile state and faces the challenges of poverty, corruption and economic mismanagement.

The 70,000 former combatants who were disarmed and rehabilitated after the war have swollen the ranks of the many young people seeking employment.

Sierra Leone is rich in diamonds. The trade in illicit gems, known as "blood diamonds" for their role in funding conflicts, perpetuated the civil war. The government has attempted to crack down on cross-border diamond trafficking.

Sierra Leone has a special significance in the history of the transatlantic slave trade. It was the departure point for thousands of west African captives. The capital, Freetown, was founded as a home for repatriated former slaves in 1787.

Facts

• Overview
• Facts
• Leaders
• Media

• Full name: Republic of Sierra Leone
• Population: 5.9 million (UN, 2007)
• Capital: Freetown
• Area: 71,740 sq km (27,699 sq miles)
• Major languages: English, Krio (Creole language derived from English) and a range of African languages
• Major religions: Islam, Christianity
• Life expectancy: 41 years (men), 44 years (women) (UN)
• Monetary unit: Leone
• Main exports: Diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish
• GNI per capita: US $220 (World Bank, 2006)
• Internet domain: .sl
• International dialling code: +232

Leaders

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• Leaders
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President : Ernest Bai Koroma

Ernest Bai Koroma was sworn in as Sierra Leone's new president on 17 September 2007. He won 54.6% of the vote in a run-off with the incumbent vice-president Solomon Berewa.

President Koroma has pledged to fight corruption

Mr Koroma promised zero tolerance on corruption in his inaugural speech. He also said he'd fight against the mismanagement of state resources.

Addressing thousands of cheering supporters, Mr Koroma said: "We know how high your expectations are and that you have suffered for too long."

Mr Koroma's All People's Congress (APC) also won a majority in parliamentary elections held in August 2007.

He was born in northern Makeni in 1953, and is an insurance broker who says he wants to run Sierra Leone like a business concern.

His predecessor Ahmad Tejan Kabbah is credited with bringing in foreign help to rescue the country. Mr Kabbah stepped down in August 2007 after serving two terms in office.

Media

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• Media

Media freedom in Sierra Leone has its limits; media rights monitors have reported that high-level corruption is a taboo topic, with the authorities using libel laws and the courts to target errant journalists.

Broadcasters face many challenges, including unreliable electricity supplies, a shortage of funds and a lack of advertising revenue.

There are dozens of radio stations, most of them privately owned. The UN Mission in Sierra Leone, Unmasil, operates radio services. They provide information about human rights and UN activities, as well as music and news.

FM relays of BBC World Service are on the air in Freetown (94.3), Bo (94.5) and Kenema (95.3). Voice of America and Radio France Internationale are available on FM in the capital.

Dozens of newspapers are published in Freetown, despite low literacy levels. Most of them are privately-run and are often critical of the government.

The press

• Awoko
• Concord Times
• Standard Times
• Independent Observer
• For di People

Television

• Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service (SLBS) - terrestrial network with limited coverage
• ABC TV - private

Radio

• Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service (SLBS) - national broadcaster
• Radio Democracy 98.1 FM - Freetown station, once the voice of the exiled Kabbah government, regarded as pro-government
• Kiss FM - private station in Bo
• SKYY FM - private station in Freetown
• Radio Unamsil - UN radio network
• Capital Radio - private station in Freetown
• Believers Broadcasting Network - Freetown, Christian FM station
• Voice of the Handicapped - founded as an FM station for disabled citizens, but attracts a wider audience

News agency

• Sierra Leone News Agency