Country Profile - Sierra Leone

General Information

Area: 71,740 sq km (27,699 sq miles).

Population: 4,587,000 (official estimate 2001).

Population Density: 63.9 per sq km.

Capital: Freetown. Population: 822,000 (1999).

GEOGRAPHY: Sierra Leone is bordered to the northwest, north and northeast by Guinea Republic, and to the southeast by Liberia. To the south and southwest lies the Atlantic Ocean. A flat plain up to 110km (70 miles) wide stretches the length of the coast except for the Freetown peninsula, where the Sierra Lyoa Mountains rise to 1000m (3280ft). In some coastal areas, sand bars have formed that stretch out as far as 112km (70 miles). Behind the coastal plain is the central forested area, drained by eight principal rivers, which has been cleared for agriculture. The land rises in altitude eastwards to the Guinea Highlands, a high plateau with peaks rising to over 1830m (6000ft) in the Loma Mountains and Tingi Hills area. The Mende tribe is prominent in the southeast and the Temne in the western and northern areas.

Government: Republic. Gained independence from the UK in 1961. Head of State and Government: President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah since 1996.

Language: The official language is English. Krio is also widely spoken. Local dialects are Mende, Limba and Temne.

Religion: Animist (40 per cent), Islam (40 per cent) and Christian (20 per cent).

Time: GMT.

Electricity: 220/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Supply subject to fluctuations.

Communications:

Telephone: IDD is available. Country code: 232. Outgoing international code: 00.

Mobile telephone: GSM 900 networks available. Operators include Celtel (SL) Limited (website: www.celtel.com), Lintel (Sierra Leone) Limited and Millicom Sierra Leone. Coverage limited to Freetown and environs.

Fax: Facilities are available at SierraTel offices.

Internet: ISPs include SierraTel Internet (tel: (22) 222 801/4; e-mail: stcl@sierratel.sl). Public access outlets are increasingly popping up, especially in Freetown where access is also available through the British Council.

Telegram: Facilities at Slecom House, 7 Wallace Johnson Street, Freetown.

Post: Airmail to Western Europe takes about 5 days.
Press: Sierra Leone’s English-language daily is the Daily Mail. Other newspapers are The Daily Observer, For Di People and The Vision.

Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.

Passport/Visa

Passport Required? Visa Required? Return Ticket Required?
British Yes Yes Yes
Australian Yes Yes Yes
Canadian Yes Yes Yes
USA Yes Yes Yes
OtherEU Yes Yes Yes
Japanese Yes Yes Yes

Restricted entry: Nationals of Liberia need authorisation from the Government of Sierra Leone or they will be refused admission.

PASSPORTS: Passport valid for a minimum of 1 year required by all.

VISAS: Required by all except the following:

(a) nationals of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo for stays up to 90 days;

(b) transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft within 24 hours provided holding onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport transit area.

Types of visa and cost: Tourist: £35 (single-entry); £70 (multiple-entry). Express Tourist: £55. Business: £45 (single-entry); £90 (multiple-entry). Express Business: £65.

Validity: Entry Permits and visas generally are valid for 3 months and allow a stay of 1 month in Sierra Leone for single-entry only. An extension is possible by application to the Department of Immigration in Freetown.

Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy or High Commission); see Contact Addresses section.

Application requirements: (a) Completed application form. (b) One passport-size photo. (c) Passport valid for 1 year. (d) Confirmation of hotel reservation for Tourist visa. (e) Letter of invitation and company letter for Business visa. (f) Vaccination against yellow fever, malaria and cholera are required in order to obtain a visa (see Health section). (g) Fee in cash or postal order for mail applications.

Working days required: 3. Several weeks are required where referral to authorities in Sierra Leone is necessary. 1 day for Express visa.

Money

Currency: Leone (Le) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of Le5000, 2000, 1000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins are in denominations of Le100 and 50. In June 1986, a system of ‘floating’ exchange rates was introduced to correct persistent over-valuation of the Leone.

Credit & debit cards: American Express is widely accepted and Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa have limited acceptance. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other facilities that might be available.

Travellers cheques: These are generally not recommended.

Exchange rate indicators: The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Leone against Sterling and the US Dollar:

Date Aug ’03 Nov ’03 Feb ’04 May ’04
£1.00= 3078.94 4157.52 4459.62 4375.96
$1.00= 1930.10 2450.00 2450.00 2450.00

Currency restrictions: The import and export of local currency is limited to Le50,000. The import of foreign currency is unlimited subject to declaration; export of foreign currency is limited to the amount declared on arrival (amounts exceeding US$5000 must be authorised by the National Bank of Sierra Leone).

Banking hours: Mon-Thurs 0800-1330, Fri 0800-1400.

Duty Free

Duty Free: The following may be imported into Sierra Leone without incurring customs duty:
200 cigarettes or 225g tobacco; 1.136l of wine or spirits.

Prohibited imports: Narcotics. Firearms without a licence from the Commissioner of Police in Freetown.

Abolition of Duty Free Goods within the EU: On 30 June 1999, the sale of duty-free alcohol and tobacco at airports and at sea was abolished in all of the original 15 EU member states. Of the 10 new member states that joined the EU on May 1st 2004, these rules already apply to Cprus and Malta. There are transitional rules in place for visitors returning to one of the original 15 EU countries from one of the other new EU countries. But for the original 15, plus Cyprus and Malta, there are now no limits imposed on importing tobacco and alcohol products from one EU country to another, (with the exceptions of Denmark, Finland and Sweden, where limits are imposed). Travellers should note that they may be required to prove at customs that the goods purchased are for personal use only.

Public Holidays

Public Holidays: Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Feb 2 Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice). Apr 9 Good Friday. Apr 12 Easter Monday. Apr 27 Independence Day. May 2 Maulid-un-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet). Nov 14-16 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan). Dec 25 Christmas Day. Dec 26 Boxing Day. Jan 1 2005 New Year’s Day. Jan 21 Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice). Mar 25 Good Friday. Mar 28 Easter Monday. Apr 21 Maulid-un-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet). Apr 27 Independence Day. Nov 3-5 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan). Dec 25 Christmas Day. Dec 26 Boxing Day.

Note: Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha may last anything from 2 to 10 days, depending on the region. For more information, see the World of Islam appendix.

Health

Special Precautions Certificate Required?
Yellow Fever Yes 1
Cholera 2 No
Typhoid and Polio 3 N/A
Malaria 4 N/A

1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required of travellers arriving from infected areas. Travellers arriving from non-endemic zones should note that vaccination is strongly recommended for travel outside the urban areas, even if an outbreak of the disease has not been reported and they would normally not require a vaccination certificate to enter the country.

2: Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is not a condition of entry to Sierra Leone. However, cholera is a serious risk in this country and precautions are essential. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination, as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness; see the Health appendix for further details.

3: Polio and typhoid both occur.

4: Malaria risk exists, predominantly in the malignant falciparum form, all year throughout the country. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported.

Food & drink: All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Avoid dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Other risks: Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water; swimming pools which are well chlorinated and maintained are safe. Filariasis and dengue fever are present. Trachoma, hepatitis A and E, tungiasis and dysentery are widespread. Trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) may be present and there is a significant risk of infection for travellers visiting or working in rural areas. Meningococcal meningitis and TB may occur. Hepatitis B is hyperendemic.

Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, consult the Health appendix.

Health care: Medical facilities are extremely limited and continuing to decline. According to UN estimates, Sierra Leone has the highest death rate and the second-highest infant mortality rate (200 out of every 1000 infants die within 1 year of birth). Missions and foreign aid organisations provide some medical facilities. Health insurance is essential. It is advisable to take personal medical supplies.

Travel – International

Note: Foreign travellers should not travel to the areas of Sierra Leone bordering Liberia unless on essential business, owing to the current political climate. For further advice, visitors should contact their local government travel advice department.

AIR: Sierra Leone’s national airline is Sierra National Airlines (LJ). Other airlines serving Sierra Leone include Air Gambia and Ghana Airways who fly once a week via Accra. Owing to political instability, some flights from Europe and the USA are still suspended or disrupted. The situation is likely to improve. Check with the relevant airlines, the Embassy or High Commission for up-to-date information.

Approximate flight times: From Freetown to London is 10 hours 30 minutes (including transit in Accra).

International airports: Freetown (FNA) (Lungi) is 13km (8 miles) north of the city (travel time – 45 minutes). There is a catamaran/ferry link as well as taxi and bus services to the city. A helicopter service is also available (travel time – 6 minutes). Airport facilities include a post office, bar, shops and currency exchange.

Departure tax: US$20 (payable in hard currency by all except nationals of Sierra Leone). Transit passengers and children under 2 years of age are exempt.

SEA: The principal port is Freetown which has services to Guinea Republic and Liberia.

RAIL: There are no passenger services at present.

ROAD: There are routes from Guinea Republic and Liberia, but access depends on the prevailing political situation. Contact the Embassy or High Commission for up-to-date information.

Travel – Internal

AIR: Sierra National Airlines (LJ) does not operate internal flights. Private airlines can be chartered.

SEA: Ferries connect all coastal ports. For details, contact local authorities or the National Tourist Board of Sierra Leone (see Contact Addresses section).

ROAD: Traffic drives on the right. Sierra Leone has over 10,000km (6214 miles) of roads. Although the principal highways have a tarred surface, the secondary roads are poorly maintained and often impassable during the rainy season. There are some roadblocks at night on major roads near centres of population. Bus: Local and long-distance bus services are operated by the Sierra Leone Road Transport Corporation. Buses are fast and cheap and connect all the major centres. Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required.

URBAN: Limited bus services in Freetown are operated by the Road Transport Corporation, although a substantial part of the city’s public transport is provided by minibuses and share-taxis.

Accommodation

ACCOMMODATION: There are several hotels in Freetown of international standard with air conditioning and swimming pools. It is always advisable to make reservations in advance. Additionally, there are three luxury hotels located on the peninsula at Lakka and Tokay. The YMCA in Freetown offers clean, cheap accommodation with shared bathroom and kitchen facilities at a reasonable rate. Hotels in the interior are rare, although in Bo there is now a hotel which is of international standard. There are also government rest houses, for which application must be made to the Ministry of the Interior; guests must bring their own linen. For more information, contact the Ministry of Tourism and Culture (see Contact Addresses section) or, for advice and informal information on this and other aspects of travelling to Sierra Leone, Sierra Leone Tourism Information (website: www.visitsierraleone.org).

Social Profile

Food & Drink: Restaurants in the capital serve Armenian, English, French and Lebanese food. African food is served in hotels; local dishes include excellent fish, lobster and prawns, exotic fruit and vegetables.

Nightlife: Freetown has nightclubs and two casinos and there is music, dancing and local entertainment arranged by the hotels along Lumley Beach in the Cape Sierra district. Some beachside clubs organise concerts by local pop bands.

SHOPPING: Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0800-1200 and 1400-1700.

Social Conventions: The majority of people in Sierra Leone still live a traditional, agricultural way of life, with ruling chiefs, and religions which preserve social stability, as well as local music, dance, customs and traditions. Handshaking is the normal form of greeting. It is usual to be entertained in a hotel or restaurant, particularly for business visitors. Small tokens of appreciation are always welcome. Casual wear is suitable everywhere. Men are rarely expected to wear suits and ties. Tipping: Most hotels and restaurants include a service charge of 10 to 15 per cent. Taxi drivers do not expect tips.

Business Profile

Economy: Following what is hopefully a permanent end to the country’s debilitating civil war, Sierra Leone can now start to rebuild its shattered economy. With an annual per capita income of just US$140, it is one of the world’s poorest countries. It also recorded the lowest figure in the 2002 UN Human Development Index: in other words, it is the worst place in the world to live. The agricultural and mining sectors were particularly badly hit by the fighting. Agriculture employs over two-thirds of the workforce who grow coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, nuts and ginger as cash crops along with rice, bananas and cassava as staples. The fishing industry is also important.

The principal industrial activity is mining: the country has some of the world’s most valuable diamond mines, as well as deposits of gold, bauxite and titanium ore. Diamonds have proved as much a curse as a blessing, as much of the civil war fighting was motivated by control of the mines and both the Government and the rebel forces relied on the revenues to sustain their war efforts. The remainder of the industrial sector is devoted to mineral and ore processing, as well as some light manufacturing of consumer goods such as textiles and furniture.

Sierra Leone’s other major economic asset is the world’s third-largest natural harbour, which the government is hoping to develop as a hub for international and transit trade for the whole of the region.

Since the end of the war, the economy has grown healthily at between 5 and 7 per cent annually. Inevitably, Sierra Leone still depends on large injections of foreign aid to support the economy, and the IMF and World Bank have been involved in the government’s reconstruction plans. Sierra Leone is a member of the African Development Bank and the West African trading bloc ECOWAS. The UK is the country’s largest trading partner, followed by the USA, Germany and The Netherlands.

Business: English is the most common language in business circles. Appointments and punctuality are expected. Visiting cards are essential. September to June are the best months for business visits. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1400-1700.

Commercial Information: The following organisation can offer advice: Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, Guma Building, Lamina Sankoh Street, Freetown (tel: (22) 226 305; fax: (22) 228 005; e-mail: cocsl@sierratel.sl; website: http://cocsl.bizhosting.com).

Climate

Climate: Tropical and humid all year. Between November and April, it is very hot and dry, although the coastal areas are cooled by sea breezes. In December and January, the dry dusty Harmattan wind blows from the Sahara. During the rainy season between May and November, rainfall can be torrential.