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EMBASSY/CONSULATE ADDRESSES

Diplomatic Representation in US:
Ambassador: Bockari K. STEVENS
Embassy: 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Telephone: [1] (202) 939-9261 through 63
Fax: [1] (202) 483-1793

US Diplomatic Representation:
Ambassador: Michael S. Owen
Embassy: Corner of Walpole and Siaka Stevens Streets, Freetown
Mailing Address: use embassy street address
Telephone: [232] (22) 226481 trough 226485
Fax: [232] (22) 225471

Embassy and Consulate Web Sites for Sierra Leone

U.S. Embassy Web Site in Sierra Leone
Embassy of Sierra Leone in Washington DC


FOREIGN RELATIONS

U.S.-SIERRA LEONE RELATIONS

The United States established diplomatic relations with Sierra Leone in 1961, following its independence from the United Kingdom. U.S.-Sierra Leone relations are cordial. About 2% of Sierra Leone's population are Krio, the descendants of freed slaves who returned to Sierra Leone beginning in the late 1700s from Great Britain and North America and from slave ships captured on the high seas. Many thousands of Sierra Leoneans reside in the United States.

Sierra Leone's brutal 1991-2002 civil war destroyed infrastructure and truncated political, social, and economic development. The country has made substantial progress in transitioning from a post-conflict nation to a developing democracy that has made notable economic gains. It also is emerging as one of the most stable countries in a volatile region. Most notably, it now contributes significantly to United Nations peacekeeping operations, including the UN Mission to Darfur (UNAMID). It will deploy a U.S.-trained battalion to the AU Peace Support Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) later this year. The government also has passed one of Africa’s toughest anti-corruption laws, made high-profile arrests, and secured convictions in a majority of its prosecutions. Despite this, Sierra Leone continues to grapple with entrenched corruption, poor health conditions, weak governmental institutions, high unemployment, slow economic growth, abject poverty, and inadequate social services. The next presidential and parliamentary elections will be held November 17, 2012.

Sierra Leone relies on significant amounts of foreign assistance, principally from multilateral donors; the United States is among the largest bilateral donors. The United States is the largest single donor to the Special Court for Sierra Leone, which has pursued cases against those most responsible for violations of humanitarian law during the country's civil war.

U.S. Assistance to Sierra Leone

U.S. development assistance programs seek to support elections and political processes, create livelihood opportunities, improve food security and nutrition, augment civic participation, and build capacity for both rural and urban health service delivery. U.S. security assistance aims to help Sierra Leone build a more professional and apolitical Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces that will also be capable of supporting peacekeeping in Africa as well as fighting drug trafficking and smuggling.

Bilateral Economic Relations

U.S. exports to Sierra Leone include transportation equipment, agricultural products, machinery, and chemicals, while its imports from Sierra Leone include minerals, metals, machinery, and agricultural products. Sierra Leone is eligible for preferential trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. The two countries do not have a bilateral investment treaty or taxation treaty. On June 26, 2012, negotiators for both countries initialed the text of a new air transport agreement that, upon entry into force, will establish an Open Skies aviation relationship.

Sierra Leone's Membership in International Organizations

Sierra Leone and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization.

Bilateral Representation

The U.S. Ambassador to Sierra Leone is Michael S. Owen; other principal embassy officials are listed in the Department's Key Officers List.

Sierra Leone maintains an embassy in the United States at 1701 19th Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20009, tel. 202-939-9261.

More information about Sierra Leone is available from the Department of State and other sources, some of which are listed here:

Department of State Sierra Leone Page
Department of State Key Officers List
CIA World Factbook Sierra Leone Page
U.S. Embassy: Sierra Leone
USAID Sierra Leone Page
History of U.S. Relations With Sierra Leone
Human Rights Reports
International Religious Freedom Reports
Trafficking in Persons Reports
Narcotics Control Reports
Investment Climate Statements
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative Countries Page
U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Statistics
Travel and Business Information




TRAVEL ADVISORIES

To obtain the latest Travel Advisory Information for Sierra Leone check the U.S. State Department Consular Information Sheet.


TRAVEL TIPS

Driving TBA
Currency (SLL) Leone
Electrical 230 Volts
Telephones Country Code 232



Travel Warning
Diamond-rich Sierra Leone is one of the world's most impoverished countries. Rampant corruption and ten years of bloody civil war has left the nation in tatters. Although the war was declared over in January 2002, the peace is fragile.

In March 1998, the elected government of Sierra Leone was restored by Ecomog (a West African coalition of peacekeepers), following a military coup in May 1997. Fighting and looting during the coup, and the restoration of government, caused extensive damage to cities and villages, with heavy casualties. January 1999 saw the storming of Freetown by RUF (Revolutionary United Front) rebels. Several thousand civilians were killed during the assault, and many more were brutally maimed.

Ecomog troops withdrew in 1999, and a UN peacekeeping force secured Freetown in early 2000. The UN placed sanctions on the sale of diamonds from Sierra Leone, which were being smuggled through Liberia to fund the RUF rebel resistance, but the illegal trade continues. Ceasefire agreements were made between the government and the RUF and other rebel groups, providing for the disarmament of the rebels in exchange for a share in government. Renewed violence marred the disarmament process; for example, in mid-2000, several hundred UN troops were taken hostage by rebels.

In addition to the UN force, the UK got involved, training a new army and establishing a new police force. Serious disarmament got underway in mid-2001, and by January 2002, the war was deemed to be over. The country went ahead with delayed elections in May 2002, with incumbent President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah and his Sierra Leone People's Party winning by a landslide. The relatively peaceful election campaign and Kabbah's vow to fight corruption are seen as hopeful signs for a nation weary of war.

Despite recent positive developments, Sierra Leone remains highly unstable, and the US, UK and Australian governments are still advising their citizens not to travel there. It is estimated that over two million people in the Bo, Kenema and Freetown regions were displaced by the war. Many of these are now in the process of being resettled. Armed crime in all parts of the country is also a problem. Hope may spring eternal, but in a country where there are so many refugees, the continuing potential to return to bloody civil war, the world's highest infant mortality rate, widespread child prostitution and rampaging sexually transmitted diseases, it is likely that Sierra Leone will remain off-limits to tourists for the short term at least.


CUSTOMS/DUTIES

Tobacco................200 cigarettes or 225g of tobacco

Liquor....................1 bottle

Perfume.................Reasonable for personal use

Cameras................1 still camera

Film.......................Reasonalbe for personal use

Gifts.......................Reasonable amount

Currency................Must be declared on arrival

Agriculture Items....Refer to consulate



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