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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic
of Sierra Leone
conventional short form: Sierra Leone
local long form: Republic of Sierra Leone
local short form: Sierra Leone |
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Government type:
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constitutional democracy |
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Capital:
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name: Freetown
geographic coordinates: 8 30 N, 13 15 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC
during Standard Time) |
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Administrative divisions:
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3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern,
Northern, Southern, Western* |
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Independence:
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27 April 1961 (from UK) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 27 April (1961)
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Constitution:
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1 October 1991; subsequently amended
several times |
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Legal system:
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based on English law and customary laws
indigenous to local tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Ahmad
Tejan KABBAH (since 29 March 1996, reinstated 10 March 1998); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since 29
March 1996, reinstated 10 March 1998); note - the president is both
the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president with
the approval of the House of Representatives; the cabinet is
responsible to the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term (eligible for a second term); election last held 14 May 2002
(next to be held 28 July 2007)
election results: Ahmad Tejan KABBAH reelected president;
percent of vote - Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (SLPP) 70.6%, Ernest KOROMA (APC)
22.4% |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Parliament (124 seats - 112
elected by popular vote, 12 filled by paramount chiefs elected in
separate elections; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 14 May 2002 (next to be held May 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - SLPP 70.06%, APC
22.35%, PLP 3%, others 4.59%; seats by party - SLPP 83, APC 27, PLP
2 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court; Appeals Court; High Court
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Political parties and leaders:
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All People's Congress or APC [Ben KANU];
Peace and Liberation Party or PLP [Darlington MORRISON, interim
chairman]; Sierra Leone People's Party or SLPP [Sama BANYA];
numerous others |
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Political pressure groups and
leaders:
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trade unions and student unions
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International organization
participation:
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ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
WTO |
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Diplomatic representation in the
US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador
Ibrahim M. KAMARA
chancery: 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 939-9261 through 9263
FAX: [1] (202) 483-1793 |
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Diplomatic representation from
the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador
Thomas N. HULL
embassy: Corner of Walpole and Siaka Stevens Streets,
Freetown
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [232] (22) 226481 through 226485
FAX: [232] (22) 225471 |
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Flag description:
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three equal horizontal bands of light
green (top), white, and light blue |
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Government and President Tejan Kabbah of
Sierra Leone
