Sierra Leone

1462 - 1462 Naming of Sierra Leone

Naming of Sierra Leone

The Portuguese Pedro de Sintra spotted the coastline of Sierra Leone and described it as “Serra da Leoa” translated as Lion Rock. Later, the British changed the name to “Sierra Leone”.

1792 - 1792 The Settlement of the Krios in Freetown

The settlement of the Krios in Freetown
400 former African American slaves settled in Freetown near the Cotton Tree (landmark and oldest tree in the centre of Freetown) as the Krios ethnic group.

1808 - 1808 The Colonial Era

The colonial period

Sierra Leone became a British colony.

1827 - 1827 Foundation of Fourah Bay College

Foundation of Fourah Bay College

Founding of the first and oldest West African university, Fourah Bay College.

1961 - 1961 Independence

Independence

Sierra Leone gained its independence on 27 April 1961.

1992-2002  - 1992- 2002 A decade of civil war

A decade of civil war

The political division of a fledgling republic at the time allowed rebel groups such as the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), the Armed Forces Revolution Council (AFRC) and the West Side Boys to plunge the country into an 11-year civil war. In this war, 50,000 people lost their lives, many more were maimed or traumatised and more than 100,000 people had to flee.

2002  - 2002 ‘Di war don don’ – The End of the War

‘Di war don don’ – The End of the War
In January 2002, the war was declared officially over. The UN Peacekeeping Mission then disarmed 45,000 fighters.

2014-2016 - 2014-2016 The Ebola Virus Epidemic

The Ebola Virus Epidemic

In 2014, the first global Ebola virus epidemic shook West Africa. In Sierra Leone, nearly 13,000 people became infected and nearly 4,000 died.

2018 - 2018 Democratic elections

Democratic elections
The last elections in Sierra Leone led to a peaceful transfer of power in the two-party state (APC and SLPP) from Ernest Koroma (APC) to the incumbent President Julius Maada Bio (SLPP).