Time précoloniale

The territory of current the Sierra Leone was the refuge many people, such as the Kissi, the Sherbro and the Krim, at the time of the political conflicts of savanna.

In XVe century, driving back the first occupants, of the people mandingues are established there, the Mende on the Eastern coast, the Temné towards the border of current Liberia and the Soussou in the center.

In 1460, the Portuguese explorer Pedro da Cintra gives the name of Tightened Leoa (renamed later " Sierra Leone " by Spanish, literally the “Mountain of the lion”) to the peninsula where will be later the capital Freetown.

In XVIe century, the draft négrière starts truly. Europeans, with the participation of the coastal populations, begin the triangular Commerce in the country.

Colonial time

In 1787, the British buy the site where will be built the Freetown capital. They accommodate there slaves of America, released to reward them to have chosen the British camp during the Guerre of Independence of the United States. Other groups of released slaves join them of all Africa and the Sierra Leone becomes in 1792 the first British colony of West Africa. Labor lack for the agricultural work, these former slaves launch out in the trade.

The population of the Sierra Leone, from 2000 inhabitants in 1807, passes to 11  000 in 1825 and with 40  000 in 1850. To the 400 returned Blacks of London, Great Britain in 1787, are added successively Nova Scotians (Blacks of America which fought at the sides of the British during the war of Independence and who were folded up in Nova Scotia), of the maroon Negros of Jamaica (reconquered in 1796) off-set in Nova Scotia and a recaptives growing number of , Noirs snatches by the British cruisers with the slave ships of smuggling. These Saros (Leonians Sierra), formed in Christian schools, will give birth to a middle-class of civils servant and very brilliant liberal profession and with a class undertaking of tradesmen, agent of the missions, worker manuals, who will essaimeront of the Gambia to the Cameroun, even to the Angola. It will be particularly numerous with the Nigeria after the return of 3000 recaptives Egba towards 1850 to Abeokuta.

During the 19th century, the Sierra Leone develops an original culture mixing African traditional elements and European influence. The local language, the Krio, combines a syntax Yoruba and a partly European vocabulary. In 1868, a sixth of the population is provided education for, that is to say a rate higher than that of the the United Kingdom. The Sierra Leone accommodates also the College of Bourah Bay, only university with Western established in sub-Saharan Africa. At the end of the century, however, the decline of the trade and the increase in the European pressure lead to the loss of influence of the black African elite, as in the whole of West Africa.

In 1951, a program of Décolonisation is prepared. Milton Margai, former doctor and chief of the party Sierra Leone People' S Party (SLPP), is named general governor in 1954.

Since independence

The April 27th 1961, the country obtains its independence. But because of fights between Ethnos group S, the country knows a great political instability. Albert Margai, brother of Milton Margai, succeeds to him like Prime Minister in 1964.

In March 1967, Siaka Stevens, chief of the party All People' S Congress (APC), gains the elections, but its accession with the capacity is delayed until April 1968 by a series of military coups d'etat. The April 19th 1971, it founds a mode of sole party. It then tries to cleanse the political life, while fighting against corruption for example. But it quickly gives up this way to work the mines of Diamant S in the north of the country.

The May 28th 1975, with 14 other States, the Sierra Leone founds the Economic community of the States of West Africa.

Siaka Stevens leaves its place to the commander-in-chief of the armies, Joseph Saidu Momoh, in November 1985. This last is officially elected president in January 1986. In November 1987, Momoh issues “the economic state of emergency” and takes Draconian austerity measures. But the exploitation of the diamond mines always continues to bring back much money to the main leaders of the mode.

The civil war

See also: Civil war of Sierra Leone

The Civil war of the Sierra Leone was held March 1991 with the January 18th 2002. The purpose of this war was principal control of the zones Diamant ifères.

It caused the death of 100  000 with 200  000 people and the displacement of more than 2 million people (what represents one the third of the population of the time). Many mutilations also took place, as well as the large-scale use of children soldiers.

Since the end of the civil war

The May 14th, the outgoing president, Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, is re-elected with 70,6% of the voices.

The country is currently in peace. Various measurements snuff by UNO are gradually reduced, even removed, like the lifting of the Embargo on exports of diamonds of blood . The reduction in manpower of MINUSUSIL, the blue helmets, is also carried out. After a peak of 17.500 men in March 2001, manpower are brought back to 13.000 in June 2003 and 5.000 in October 2004.

However, for economic reasons, many children always work in the diamond mines, which are very dangerous. The propagation of the AIDS on their premises is also very important: 16.000 children of less than 15 years are HIV positive.