Sierra Leone: Diamonds and Recovery

Sierra Leone, on West Africa's coast, has beautiful beaches and significant diamond reserves that unfortunately fueled brutal civil war in the 1990s. The country has worked to recover and rebuild since the conflict's end in 2002.

Freetown, the capital, was founded as a settlement for freed slaves, particularly from Britain and the Americas. Sierra Leone's beaches rank among West Africa's finest. The country's diamond resources sparked the "blood diamond" conflict. The 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak severely affected Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone has diverse ethnic groups speaking many languages, though English is official and Krio (Creole) widely spoken. Despite traumatic recent history, Sierra Leoneans show remarkable resilience and hospitality. The country faces poverty and infrastructure challenges but maintains optimism. Efforts to reform the diamond industry aim to prevent conflict recurrence.