In the 15th century
The Bulom people were thought to have been the earliest inhabitants of Sierra Leone, followed by the Mende and Temne peoples and thereafter the Fulani. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to explore the land and gave Sierra Leone its name, which means ��lion mountains.��
1787
Freetown, on the coast, was ceded to English settlers as a home for blacks discharged from the British armed forces and also for runaway slaves who had found asylum in London.
1808
The coastal area became a British colony.
1896
A British protectorate was proclaimed over the hinterland.
April 27, 1961
Sierra Leone became an independent nation.
1967
A military coup overthrew the civilian government, which was in turn replaced by civilian rule a year later.
April 19, 1971
The country declared itself a republic.
1971
A coup attempt led to then Prime Minister Siaka Stevens calling in troops from neighboring Guinea's army, which remained for two years.
April 1978
Stevens turned the government into a one-party state under the aegis of the All People's Congress Party.
1992
Rebel soldiers overthrew Stevens's successor, Joseph Momoh, calling for a return to a multiparty system.
1996
Another military coup ousted the country's military leader and president. Nevertheless, a multiparty presidential election proceeded, and People's Party candidate Ahmad Tejan Kabbah won and became Sierra Leone's first democratically elected president.
May 1997
But a violent military coup ousted President Kabbah's civilian government. The leader of the coup, Lieut. Col. Johnny Paul Koroma, assumed the title ��Head of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council�� (AFRC). Koroma began a reign of terror, destroying the economy and murdering enemies. The Commonwealth of Nations demanded the reinstatement of Kabbah, and ECOMOG, the Nigerian-led peacekeeping force, intervened.
March 10, 1998
After ten months in exile, Kabbah resumed his rule over Sierra Leone. The ousted junta and other rebel forces continued to wage attacks, many of which included the torture, rape, and brutal maiming of thousands of civilians, including countless children�Xamputation by machete is the horrific signature of the rebels. In addition to political power, the rebels are after control of Sierra Leone's rich diamond fields.
Jan. 1999
Rebels and Liberian mercenaries stormed the capital, demanding the release of the imprisoned Revolutionary United Front (RUF) leader, Foday Sankoh. ECOMOG regained control of Freetown, but President Kabbah later released Sankoh so he could participate in peace negotiations.
July 1999
Pressured by Nigeria and the U.S., among other countries, Kabbah agreed to an untenable power-sharing agreement, which made Sankoh vice president of the country�Xand in charge of the diamond mines.
May 2000
The accord dissolved after the RUF abducted about 500 UN peacekeepers and attacked Freetown. Sankoh was captured and remains in government custody, where he awaits trial for war crimes.
Jan. 2002
The conflict was officially declared over�Xan estimated 50,000 people were killed in the decade-long civil war. The UN has installed its largest peacekeeping force in the country (17,000 troops) and 45,000 soldiers have been disarmed.
May 2002
President Kabbah was reelected with 70% of the vote.