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Country Background

Sierra Leone is a country located in Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean. It is bounded by Guinea and Liberia. The capital of Sierra Leone is Freetown. The official language is English. The country's population in 2017 was approximately 6.2 million. Sierra Leone is a predominantly Muslim country, with about 60% of the population Muslim, 30% indigenous beliefs, and 10% Christian. Sierra Leone is a member state of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

Constitution & Legal Structure

Sierra Leone is referred to as a presidential republic, in which sovereignty belongs to the people and the Constitution is the supreme law of the land. The current Constitution of Sierra Leone was adopted in 1991, reinstated in 1996, and amended most recently in 2008. The system of government is based on principles of separation and checks and balances and has three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The legal system of Sierra Leone is a mixed legal system of English common law and customary law.  

Constitutional Status of Islamic Law

Islamic law has no constitutional status in Sierra Leone.  

Jurisdiction(s) of Islamic Law

Islamic law has no official jurisdiction of operation in Sierra Leone. 

Dominant School of Islamic Law

Sierra Leone has no official school of Islamic law. The majority of the Muslim population in the country is Sunnī (adhering to the Mālikī school).

Sources of Law for Legal Research

Official Publications

• Legislative
  • Parliament
  • Official Gazette
• Executive
  • President
• Judicial
  • an overview of the court system can be found here on the Government Portal

Unofficial Databases

• FAOLEX: Sierra Leone (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) database of national laws and regulations on food, agriculture, and renewable natural resources) 
• NATLEX: Sierra Leone (International Labour Organization) database of national laws on labor, social security, and related human rights.
• RefWorld Legal Information: Sierra Leone (UNHCR)
• WIPO Lex: Sierra Leone (World Intellectual Property Organization)
• SierraLII: Sierra Leone Legal Information Institute
• Sierra Leone Web: Laws
• Peace Agreement Between the Government of Sierra Leone and the Revolutionary United Front of Sierra Leone (U.S. Institute of Peace)
• Ratification of International Human Rights Treaties - Sierra Leone (University of Minnesota Human Rights Library)

References:

For an extended list of legal resources for this country, see the Library of Congress’s Research Guide, and for a narrative review, see the GlobaLex Foreign Law Research Guide (most updated version, where available). The Constitution is available in the LOC Guide in its original language and at Constitute in English. For full versions of past constitutions, amendments, and related legislation, see HeinOnline World Constitutions Illustrated or Oxford Constitutions of the World [subscription required for each].