<hdr>The World Factbook 1994: Sierra Leone<nl>Government</hdr><body>
<list>
<item><hi format=bold>Names:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>conventional long form:</hi> Republic of Sierra Leone
<item>• <hi format=ital>conventional short form:</hi> Sierra Leone
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>Digraph:</hi> SL
<item><hi format=bold>Type:</hi> military government
<item><hi format=bold>Capital:</hi> Freetown
<item><hi format=bold>Administrative divisions:</hi> 3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern, Southern, Western*
<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 27 April 1961 (from UK)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Republic Day, 27 April (1961)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 1 October 1991; suspended following 19 April 1992 coup
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> based on English law and customary laws indigenous to local tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 18 years of age; universal
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state and head of government:</hi> Chairman of the Supreme Council of State Capt. Valentine E. M. STRASSER (since 29 April 1992)
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Council of Secretaries; responsible to the NPRC
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>Legislative branch:</hi> unicameral House of Representatives (suspended after coup of 29 April 1992); Chairman STRASSER promises multi-party elections sometime in 1995
<item><hi format=bold>Judicial branch:</hi> Supreme Court (suspended after coup of 29 April 1992)
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> status of existing political parties is unknown following 29 April 1992 coup