Tonkolili District

Infobox City
official_name = Tonkolili District
nickname = |
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = Capital
subdivision_type2 = Province
subdivision_name = Sierra Leone
subdivision_name1 = Magburaka
subdivision_name2 = Northern Province
leader_title = Paramount Chief
leader_name = Bai Sunthuba Osara
population_as_of = 2004
population_metro =
population_total = 365,465 [http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gpro&lng=en&des=wg&srt=npan&col=adhoq&msz=1500&geo=-6647]
timezone = Greenwich Mean Time
utc_offset = -5
website =

Tonkolili District is a district in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone. Its capital and largest city is Magburaka. The district has a population of 365,465 [http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gpro&lng=en&des=wg&srt=npan&col=adhoq&msz=1500&geo=-6647] . The district occupies a total area of 7,003 km² and comprises eleven Chiefdoms.

Tonkolly District borders Bombali District to the northwest, Kono District to the east, Kenema District and Bo District to the southeast. It was a rebel stronghold during the civil war and one of the last to disarm.

Demographics

The estimated population of the district was 365,465 [http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gpro&lng=en&des=wg&srt=npan&col=adhoq&msz=1500&geo=-6647] . The population is mostly Muslim. The population of Tonkolili Distric is predominantly from the Temne, Limba and Kuranko ethnic groups.

Economy

Economically, there is significant potential for an extractive economy, specifically the mining of gold and to a lesser extent diamonds. Agriculture also plays a significant role in the economy, mostly at the Magbass sugar production facility and refinery. There are several hydroelectric power systems in the district, especially at Bumbuna. There is also as game reserve at Mamunta. However, economic development is hindered by the destruction of facilities during the civil war.

Education

Before the civil war, education was highly esteemed, especially in Arabic and English. Since the end of the conflict, schools have been rebuilt to a large extent and even created, including an Arabic college. As of 2004, the district was home to 310 primary schools which had nearly 74,000 students. It was also home to 15 secondary schools.

Government

Tonkolili District currently has nine Representatives in the Sierra Leonean Parliament, of which eight members were elected for a 5-year term. Below is the District representatives in Parliament and their affiliations:

*Sunthuba Bai Osara - Paramount Chief of Tonkolili District
*Musu Kandeh (APC)
*Mabel Turay (APC)
*Fatmata Hassan (SLPP)
*Abdulai Fornah (APC)
*Emanuel Tholley (SLPP)
*Salieu Alie Sankoh (APC)
*Usman Kargbo (APC)
*Edward Sembu Koroma (APC)

Notable people from Tonkolili District

*Foday Sankoh, former RUF leader
*Zainab Bangura Sierra Leone's foreign minister
*Minkailu Bah, Sierra Leone's minister of Education, Youth and Sports
*Musa Yamba Komeh, former MP for Magburaka

Mining

Tonkolili may be the site of new iron ore mining, including the construction of a standard gauge railway. [ http://allafrica.com/stories/200805191261.html ]

External links

* [http://www.daco-sl.org/encyclopedia/7_lib/7_2L_ti.htm Tonkolili District at the Sierra Leone Encyclopedia 2006]
* [http://allafrica.com/stories/200606090602.html Warning of the health hazard in the Tonkolii district]

References