Falaba District | |
|---|---|
 Location of Falaba District in Sierra Leone | |
| Coordinates: 9°30′N 11°30′W / 9.500°N 11.500°W | |
| Country | Sierra Leone |
| Province | Northern Province |
| Capital | Bendugu |
| Largest city | Bendugu |
| Government | |
| • Type | District Council |
| • District Council Chairman | Abdulai Maranda Sajor[2] (APC) |
| Population (2018 estimate) | |
• Total | 205,353[1] |
| Time zone | UTC0 (Greenwich Mean Time) |
Falaba District is a district in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone.[3][4] It is one of the sixteen districts of Sierra Leone. Its capital and largest town is Bendugu. Other towns in Falaba District include Falaba, Sikunia, Krubola, Musaia Ganya and Mansadu. Falaba District is divided into thirteen chiefdoms. Falaba District is one of the largest districts in Sierra Leone by land area, However, it is one of the least populous districts in the country. Falaba District is known for its mostly conservative Muslim population.[5] Falaba District has a population of 205,353, based on 2018 estimate.[1]
In 2016, Falaba District was created out of Koinadugu District, and declared a newly created district by then Sierra Leone president Ernest Bai Koroma, and was ratified by the Parliament of Sierra Leone to officially become a district in the same year. Falaba District is one of the two newest districts created by the Government of Sierra Leone, along with Karene District. Falaba District borders Koinadugu District, Bombali District, and the Republic of Guinea.
Falaba District is an entirely rural district that is composed of mostly farming, livestock and mining. Many of the towns and villages in Falaba District are in far distance and remote areas within the district.[6]
The main ethnic groups in Falaba District are the Kuranko, Yalunka, Fula and Mandingo.[4] Falaba District is home to the largest population of ethnic Yalunka in Sierra Leone.
The overwhelming majority (an estimated 95%) of the people of Falaba District are Muslims of the Sunni tradition of Islam. Large number of Islamic schools, commonly known as Madrasa, are found throughout Falaba District. Falaba District is known for its conservative Muslim population. Falaba District has the largest percentage of Muslims in Sierra Leone, and is one of two Districts in Sierra Leone where Muslims make up over 90% of the population (along with its neighbor Koinadugu District), though Muslims are the majority in all of the 16 Districts of Sierra Leone. Falaba District is home, however, to a small but significant Christian minority at about 5%. There are several Catholic and Protestants churches in the District.
- ^ a b "Falaba - SLOEDP". Sierra Leone Open Elections Data Platform.
- ^ "Elected Mayors - Sierra Leone 2018 Election - Sierra Leone Open Elections Data Platform". Sierra Leone Open Elections Data Platform.
- ^ "Sierra Leone News: New Northern District to be called 'Falaba' - Awoko Newspaper". 2 May 2017.
- ^ a b APANEWS. "Sierra Leone: Newly established district named - Apanews.net". apanews.net.
- ^ "Sierra Leone Web - Districts and Chiefdoms of Sierra Leone". www.sierra-leone.org.
- ^ "Measles outbreak confirmed in remote Falaba district".