HISTORY

Sierra Leone is in West Africa and has a population of 5,000,000.

Freetown is its capital and it is so called as in 1787 the British helped four hundred freed slaves returned from the United States, Nova Scotia and Great Britain to settle in what they called the ‘Province of Freedom. This area, around the now famous Cotton Tree, was first settled by freed slaves sent from England.

The settlement was joined by other groups of freed slaves and soon became known as “Freetown” in 1792. Freetown became one of the first British colonies in West Africa.

Sierra Leone lies on the peninsular near the Atlantic coast and Freetown has the third largest natural harbour in the world.

It has the most beautiful beaches around the west coast of the peninsular, including such places as Banana Island which has been left breathtaking in its natural habitat.

The Civil War, March 1991 to January 2002.

Sierra Leone emerged from a decade of civil war in 2002 with the help of Britain, the former colonial power, and the United Nations peace keeping mission, including British troops.

A lasting feature and daily reminder of the war which left 50,000 dead, are the atrocities committed by the rebels. Their trademark was to hack off limbs saying “short sleeve or long sleeve” before hacking off hands or arms. An estimated 20,000 civilians suffered amputation, with the rebels using machetes to sever arms, legs, lips and ears.

Up to 30,000 children are estimated to have fought as child soldiers between 1998 and 2002, and up to 5,000 children were separated from their families during the fighting. Families are still struggling to rebuild their lives and catch up with years of missed education.

More than 17,000 foreign troops disarmed tens of thousands of rebels and militia fighters. The country now faces the enormous challenge of rebuilding a new future.

Banana Island

One of the victims who has had his arm hacked off.

© The Cotton Tree Children’s Trust 2009

cottontreechild@gmail.com