Sierra Leone

The Republic of Sierra Leone is a small nation in West Africa. It has a tropical climate and is almost completely covered in rainforest. It is tragically one of the poorest nations on Earth, due to years of poverty and Western exploitation. It borders Guinea and Liberia.

Much of the poverty is the result of the recent civil conflict between the Sierra Leonean government and the Liberan-backed 'Revolutionary United Front'. Though reasons for the war were numerous, the outstanding cause was the control of Sierra Leone's diamond fields. The diamonds funded both the government and rebel war efforts. During the war, weel over one third of the Sierra Leonean population was displaced and thousands were killed. None of whom had ever seen a diamond.

Geography and Climate
Sierra Leone has a pleasant, tropical climate. It is mostly covered in forest, though has been subject to widespread deforestation. The nation is very biodiverse, and home to many endangered species.

Sierra Leone has a total land area of 71,620 km², with a total nautical area of 120 km².

History and Civil War
UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Sierra Leone was founded by the Sierra Leone Company in 1792. But in 1808, it became a British colony, and then in 1896 became a British protectorate. It was freed in 1961 and became an independent, constitutional Republic.

In 1991, civil war broke out due to government corruption.