Sierra Leone is a West African country that’s marginally bigger than Ireland located in-between Liberia and Guinea. Sierra Leone Means "Roaring Mountains" in Portuguese. It earned its name thanks to the Portuguese explorer Pedro da Cintra who, in 1462, sailed into what is now the Freetown Peninsula during an intense thunderstorm.

Development has been stunted by political instability since its independence from the UK in 1961. Sierra Leone has endured civil war, multiple military coups and the ebola epidemic.

Most people have probably heard of Sierra Leone due to its reputation for diamond mines, blood diamonds, or at least the Kayne West song. Diamonds still actually make up 29% of Sierra Leone’s official exports although it’s thought many diamonds are exported unofficially. Aluminium and titanium ores account for a further 16% of exports. In short, Sierra Leone is rich in natural resources.

Recently the situation in Sierra Leone has been improving with a more stable political situation the economy has started to grow and there’s been a rapid rise in the growth in hydroelectric energy production.

Anyway, it’s Friday, I’m off out for a beer - sadly I don’t think it will be a Star Beer.

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