Place In News
Sierra Leone
- 09 Jul 2025
- 2 min read
Several islands of Sierra Leone are facing imminent submergence due to rising sea levels, marking one of West Africa’s most severe cases of climate-induced displacement.
Sierra Leone:
- Location: Sierra Leone is a tropical country on the southwest coast of West Africa, bordered by Guinea (north and east), Liberia (south), and the Atlantic Ocean (west).
- It includes island groups like the Banana and Turtle Islands, known for tourism and cultural significance.
- Its capital Freetown is home to one of the world’s largest natural harbours.
- History: Sierra Leone was colonized in 1787 by formerly enslaved people from England, followed by settlers from Nova Scotia in 1792 and Jamaica in 1800.
- Initially managed by the Sierra Leone Company, it became a British crown colony in 1808 and gained independence in 1961.
- Geography & Ecology: It features a coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, an upland plateau, and mountains in the east. It has a tropical climate.
- The highest mountain peak is Mount Bintumani (Loma Mansa) and major rivers include the Rokel, Taia, Moa, and Sewa.
- Economy: Primarily agrarian, with subsistence farming being the main livelihood. It is also rich in mineral resources such as diamonds, gold, bauxite, and rutile (titanium dioxide).
- International Engagement:
- Member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
- India was one of the first contributors to the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), deploying a 4,000-strong military contingent in 2000-2001.
| Read More: Coup Attempt in Sierra Leone |
