Tonkolili
| Tonkolili District | |
|---|---|
 Location of Tonkolili District in Sierra Leone |
|
| Coordinates: 8°40′N 11°40′W / 8.667°N 11.667°WCoordinates: 8°40′N 11°40′W / 8.667°N 11.667°W | |
| Country | Sierra Leone |
| Province | Northern Province |
| Capital | Magburaka |
| Largest city | Magburaka |
| Government | |
| • Type | District Council |
| • District Council Chairman | Alusine Sesay (APC) |
| • Deputy District Council Chairman | Foday Kanu (APC) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7,003 km2 (2,704 sq mi) |
| Population (2015 census) | |
| • Total | 530,776 |
| • Density | 76/km2 (200/sq mi) |
| Time zone | Greenwich Mean Time (UTC-5) |
Tonkolili District is a District in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone. Its capital and largest city is Magburaka. The other major towns include Masingbi, Yele, Mile 91, Bumbuna, Yonibana, Matotoka. Mathora, Magbass and Masanga. Tonkolili District is home to the largest sugar factory in Sierra Leone, and one of the largest sugar factories in West Africa, that is located in the town of Magbass. Tonkolili District had a population of 530,776. The district occupies a total area of 7,003 km2 (2,704 sq mi) and comprises eleven chiefdoms.
Tonkolili District borders Bombali District to the northwest, Kono District to the east, Kenema District and Bo District to the southeast, Port Loko and Koinadugu Districts. Tonkolili is strategically located in the center of Sierra Leone. The district is criss crossed by many rivers including the Pampana River and Sierra Leone's longest river, the Rokel.
The population is mostly Muslim and the people are largely from the Temne ethnic group.
Economically, there is significant potential for an extractive economy, specifically the mining of iron ore, bauxite gold and to a lesser extent diamonds. Today the biggest iron ore deposit in Africa and the third largest in the world, African Minerals Tonkolili Project, are found in the hills around Bumbuna, Mabonto and Bendugu. Agriculture also plays a significant role in the economy, the biggest bio energy company in Africa, Addax Petroleum, operates mostly in Mar in constituency 60. There is also a significant agricultural activity at the Magbass sugar production facility and refinery run by Complant, a Chinese construction engineering firm. A rubber factory is about to be established in the Mile 91 area. There are several hydroelectric power systems in the district, especially at Bumbuna. There is also as game reserve at Mamunta. However, economic development was hindered by the destruction of facilities during the 1991-2002 civil war.
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Wikipedia