Sierra Leone is divided into four regions, three of these regions are the northern, eastern and southern provinces. The fourth region is the western area corresponding with what once was the colony of Sierra Leone. The western area is divided into an urban (Freetown) and a rural district. Throughout the country, authority in urban areas is exercised by town councils of which there are six in total including the capital of Freetown. Rural areas are governed by district councils, one of them is active in the western area and the three provinces have a further subdivision of 12 districts. Below the districts, village committees are elected on a four year basis for the first time in 32 years in 2004, elections were successfully repeated in 2008. Although village committees form the grassroots of local government, traditional chiefdoms still play an important role. The 148 traditional chiefdoms are now working together with the newly formed local and regional council authorities.
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The restructuring of local government as well as the first elections were a direct result of the Local Government Act of 2004 which was drafted in line with the rebuilding of the state following the 2002 civil war. Since then, local councils are gradually assuming responsibility for functions previously carried out by the central government. Efforts rebuilding Sierra Leone are noticeable both in the legal as well as practical domain. For example the Chieftaincy Act of 2009 provides further democratization in relation to paramount chiefs who are traditionally elected for life but now can be removed . Practically, local officials are being supported by training in budgeting and management of municipal infrastructure.
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Decentralization and local empowerment has so far proved to be a successful guide for consolidating peace and reducing poverty. International donors are committed to further assist the Sierra Leone government to improve economic growth and empower local communities to cash in on the peace and stability of the past eight years. Maintaining this security and stability is seen as an important function of local government. Training and equipping the chiefdom police by the Ministry of Local Government is an example of a project aiming at putting control over law enforcement in the hands of localities.
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