Bombali District

Infobox City
official_name = Bombali District


map_caption =Location of Bombali District in Sierra Leone
nickname = |
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = Capital
subdivision_type2 = Province
subdivision_name = Sierra Leone
subdivision_name1 = Makeni
subdivision_name2 = Northern Province
leader_title = Paramount Chief
leader_name = Luseni Kande
population_as_of = 2008
population_metro =
population_total = 420,561 [http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gpro&lng=en&des=wg&srt=npan&col=adhoq&msz=1500&geo=-6636]
timezone = Greenwich Mean Time
utc_offset = -5
website =

Bombali District is a district in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone. It is the second largest District in the country in geographical area, after Koinadugu District and the second most populous district in the Northern Province, after Port Loko District. Bombali District's capital and largest city is Makeni, which is also the provincial capital of the Northern Province and the fifth largest city in Sierra Leone. The population of Bombali District is estimated at 420,561 [http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gpro&lng=en&des=wg&srt=npan&col=adhoq&msz=1500&geo=-6636] . Bombali district is the home district of the current president of Sierra Leone Ernest Bai Koroma and former president of Sierra Leone Joseph Saidu Momoh.

The District of Bombali occupies a total space of 7,985 km² and comprises fourteen chiefdoms. The district borders the Republic of Guinea to the north, Port Loko District and Kambia Districts to the west, Tonkolili District to the south, and Koinadugu District to the east.

Demographics of Bombali District

The population of Bombali District was estimated to be 420,561 [http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gpro&lng=en&des=wg&srt=npan&col=adhoq&msz=1500&geo=-6636] . The Temne constitute 45% of the population, the Limba at 30% and 25% from other ethnic groups. The district is predominantly Muslim.

Economy

Main economic activities include small scale mining, production of agricultual food crops and small rumimants.

Government

The district of Bombali has eight Representatives in the Sierra Leonean Parliament, of which seven member were elected for a 5-year term. The district is a stronghold of the ruling All People's Congress (APC). In the second round of the 2007 Sierra Leone presidential election, the incumbent vice president of Sierra Leone Solomon Berewa and candidate of the then ruling Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) party got 11% of the vote in Bombali District, while the leader of the main opposition party and current president of Sierra Leone Ernest Bai Koroma of the All People's Congress (APC) got 89% of the vote in the second round in the district.

Effects of the Civil War

Bombali was a principal former rebel stronghold and experienced considerable displacement, destruction and trauma as a result of the conflict. While progress has been made since the conflict, particularly in restoration of state authority, the level of social services and economic recovery remains unsatisfactory throughout the district. The provincial importance of Makeni is in contrast with the current lack of water and power supply in the township, and the bad road network and large distances in the district have meant that limited intervention has been made in chiefdoms outside of the Makeni area, particularly in the far north.

Towns in Bombali District

*Binkolo, birthplace of Joseph Saidu Momoh, Sierra Leone's second president
*Gbendembu
*Kailangba
*Kamakwie, third largest town
*Kamabai, second largest city
*Kangbori
*Lowoma
*Makeni, capital and largest city
*Masingbi
*Moriba
*Rokulan
*Sanda
*Tonko
*Yonibana

Notable people from Bombali District

*Ernest Bai Koroma, current President of Sierra Leone
*Joseph Saidu Momoh, President of Sierra Leone from 1985-1992
*Almamy Suluku, was a powerful Limba ruler who maintained his independence as long as possible through brilliant political strategy during colonial era.
*Edward Turay, Politician
*Brima Koroma, football star
*Mohamed Kamara, football star
*Daddi Cool, Guinean reggae musician

ee also

*Sierra Leone
*Sierra Leone Civil War

Reference Sources

*Parts of this article reproduced with permission from http://www.daco-sl.org
*http://www.statehouse-sl.org/member-parliament.html