In 2003, Sierra Leone was a West African nation located on the Atlantic Ocean. It had a population of around 5 million people and its economy was largely driven by agriculture and diamond exports. The country had adopted a democratic system but corruption remained an issue. According to computergees, Sierra Leone maintained strong diplomatic ties with other African nations such as Liberia and Guinea while it also had close relations with the United Kingdom. In 2003, tourism to the country was beginning to grow as visitors were drawn to its lush rainforests, stunning beaches and unique culture. The country offered numerous attractions such as Tiwai Island which showcased the unique history of the region, Outamba-Kilimi National Park which provided opportunities for wildlife viewing, Banana Islands which offered stunning views of white-sand beaches, and Bunce Island which protected ancient slave trade sites. Additionally, there were many opportunities for outdoor activities such as exploring Gola Rainforest or visiting Tiwai Point Nature Reserve which is home to diverse flora and fauna.
Yearbook 2003
Sierra Leone. Following a raid against an armistice in the capital Freetown in January, some 40 people were arrested. But the man who was suspected of lying behind the attack, former junta leader Johnny Paul Koroma, escaped and managed to leave the country. According to Countryaah.com, Sierra Leone Independence Day is April 27. In March, Koroma was indicted in his absence when the UN-backed Special Crimes Tribunal in Sierra Leone began its operations. Among the other defendants in the first round were the leader of the RUF militia, Foday Sankoh, the supreme responsible for the outbreak of the civil war, and three of his commanders as well as Interior Minister Sam Hinga Norman. He was, during the war, the leader of the Kama Jormilis, who stood on the side of the legal government but was accused of almost as much brutality as the RUF.
Economy
| Inflation rate | 18.20% |
| Unemployment rate | 15% |
| Gross domestic product (GDP) | $ 11,550,000,000 |
| GDP growth rate | 3.70% |
| GDP per capita | 1,600 USD |
| GDP by sector | |
| Agriculture | 60.70% |
| Industry | 6.50% |
| Service | 32.90% |
| State budget | |
| Revenue | 96 million |
| Expenditure | 351 million |
| Proportion of the population below the national poverty line | 70.2% |
| Distribution of household income | |
| Top 10% | 33.6 |
| Lower 10% | 2.6 |
| Industrial production growth rate | 14.00% |
| Investment volume | |
| National debt | 63.90% of GDP |
| Foreign exchange reserves | |
| Tourism | 2014 |
| Number of visitors | 44,000 |
| Revenue | $ 35,000,000 |
Later, charges were also brought against Liberian President Charles Taylor, who has long been identified as deeply involved in the war in Sierra Leone. Although Taylor was forced to resign in August, however, he escaped being extradited. After a couple of initial interrogations with Foday Sankoh, the War Criminal Tribunal decided that he had to undergo both medical examination and mental examination before the process could continue. At the end of July, Sankoh died before the trial started. From Liberia, reports had previously been received that both the wanted Johnny Paul Koroma and the accused RUF commander Sam Bockarie had been killed in battle.
In August, former President Joseph Saidu Momoh also passed away. Dictatorship and misconduct during his tenure in 1985–92 were among the factors that triggered the Civil War. After more than a year of preparation, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission began its work in April. For three months, hundreds of people testified about abuse they have been exposed to or participated in during the war of ten years. The Commission report was to be presented in January 2004.
UN peacekeeping force UNAMSIL will remain for the time being but will gradually be reduced. From 17,000 people, the force should have shrunk to 5,000 in October 2004.
Republic of Sierra Leone Brief Guide
According to AbbreviationFinder, Sierra Leone is a state in West Africa on the Atlantic coast. The country is surrounded by Guinea to the north and Liberia to the southeast.
The state takes its name from the coastal Lion Mountains (esp. Sierra Leone). Thousands of slaves were once taken from Sierra Leone across the Atlantic, and liberated slaves founded its capital, Freetown, in 1787.
The country is slowly recovering from a decade of civil war. The UN lifted sanctions against Sierra Leone in autumn 2010.
History and order. – Through the subsequent constitutional stages of 1946, 1951 and 1956, in application of the guiding principle of post-war British colonial policy of bringing independent territories to internal autonomy and therefore to the status of members of the Commonwealth, the Order of the Council was reached (1958), as a result of which the Executive Council was made up entirely of Africans (one Premier and seven ministers) while the four ex officio members they were eliminated from it and from the Assembly of Representatives. The latter is made up of 51 elected members and 2 appointed by the Governor. A Council was formed in each district, chaired by the District Commissioner (British official) made up of traditional leaders and elected members. These councils were given considerable powers already within the competence of the Governor and the district commissioners and this to accustom the natives to administrative responsibilities as a prelude to the assumption of those policies. Finally, on March 16, 1961, the British Prime Minister accepted SL as an independent member of the British Commonwealth starting on the following April 27. In October 1961 the UN Political Committee proposed the admission of the SL to the UN
The life of the territory in recent years has been troubled by unrest at the hands of clandestine prospectors and illegal diamond traffickers. The company that held the monopoly of exploitation throughout the territory has renounced it, keeping it only for a restricted area, where, however, there have been and are frequent incidents between prospectors and police forces.
A country development plan for the period 1955-59 committed Lst. 11,428,000, of which 3,139,000 provided by the British Colonial Development and Welfare Fund.