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Sierra Leone Independence Day
April 27, 2023
Independence Day: April 27th, 1961
THE country celebrates on April 27th, marking the day that Sierra Leone became independent from the British Crown. This day in 1961 brought an end to a harsh period of over 150 years of colonial control. The Duke of Kent handed out royal documents officially making Sierra Leone an independent nation. The ceremony included unfurling the new flag in front of a large crowd of cheering citizens.
Sierra Leone, officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country on the southwest coast of West Africa. It shares its southeastern border with Liberia, and the northern half is surrounded by Guinea. Covering a total area of 71,740 km2 (27,699 sq mi), it has a tropical climate, with environments ranging from savanna to rainforests. It has a population of 7,092,113 as of the 2015 census. Freetown is the capital and largest city. The country is divided into five administrative regions, which are subdivided into 16 districts.
It is a constitutional republic with a unicameral parliament and a directly elected president serving a five-year term with a maximum of two terms. It is a secular nation with the constitution providing for the separation of state and religion and freedom of conscience (which includes freedom of thoughts and religion). Muslims make up about three-quarters of the population, with a Christian minority.
