On April 27, 1961, Sierra Leone officially gained independence from British colonial rule, becoming a sovereign nation under Prime Minister Sir Milton Margai. The country’s journey to independence was shaped by decades of political organizing and nationalist movements, including the Sierra Leone People’s Party. The transition was peaceful, with celebrations across the capital city, Freetown—founded in 1787 as a settlement for freed African slaves. As the Union Jack was lowered and the new green, white, and blue flag was raised, Sierra Leone entered a new era as an independent republic and a symbol of post-colonial progress in West Africa.
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