Nationality: noun: Sierra Leonean(s) adjective: Sierra Leonean

Ethnic groups: 20 native African tribes 90% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%,
other 30%), Creole (Krio) 10% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who
were settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century), refugees
from Liberia's recent civil war, small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese,
Pakistanis, and Indians

Religions: Muslim 60%, indigenous beliefs 30%, Christian 10%

Languages: English (official, regular use limited to literate minority),
Mende (principal vernacular in the south), Temne (principal vernacular in
the north), Krio (English-based Creole, spoken by the descendants of freed
Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area, a lingua franca
and a first language for 10% of the population but understood by 95%)

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write English,
Mende, Temne, or Arabic total population: 31.4% male: 45.4% female: 18.2%
(1995 est.)

Government Sierra Leone

Country name: Republic of Sierra Leone conventional short form:
Government type: constitutional democracy

Capital: Freetown

Administrative divisions: 3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern,
Southern, Western*

Independence: 27 April 1961 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 27 April (1961)

Constitution: 1 October 1991; subsequently amended several times

Legal system: based on English law and customary laws indigenous to
local tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: 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: 14 May 2002 (next to be held NA May 2007); note - president's
tenure of office is limited to two five-year terms election results:
Ahmad Tejan KABBAH reelected president; percent of vote - Ahmad Tejan
KABBAH (SLPP) 70.6%, Ernest KOROMA 22.4%

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (124 seats - 112 elected by
popular vote, 12 filled by paramount chiefs elected in separate elections;
members serve