Independence Day (Sierra Leone)

Independence Day is a public holiday in Sierra Leone, observed on April 27 yearly. The holiday commemorates the anniversary when Sierra Leone gained its independence from the United Kingdom on April 27, 1961.

Sierra Leone is a country on the southwest coast of West Africa, and people inhabited the region for thousands of years. The Portuguese explorers arrived in the now-Freetown Harbour area in the 15th century. In the following years, the Portuguese, Dutch, and French traders built trading posts for slave trading.

In 1787, the British Crown founded the first settlement in Sierra Leone. Five years later, nearly 1200 Black Loyalists moved from Nova Scotia to Sierra Leone and established another settlement in 1792. In the middle 19th century, the British decided to build more dominion over the territory including the inland area. It annexed these areas and declared them the Sierra Leone Protectorate in 1896.

In 1951, educated protectorate leaders from different groups formed the Sierra Leone People's Party and started to negotiate with the United Kingdom for independence. In May 1960, the United Kingdom agreed to grant Sierra Leone independence on April 27, 1961. Milton Margai, one of the founders of the Sierra Leone People's Party, became the country's first Prime Minister.

The following is the list of Independence Day in Sierra Leone from 2022 to 2026.

Please check more public holidays in Sierra Leone: