Sanniquellie

History

The Mano and Gio peoples believe they arrived in the region during a period of major migration between 1450 and 1650 AD. The area was governed by traditional monarchs and warriors until 1904. The city's name was given by Kpelle soldiers who were deployed to northern Liberia as border troops—later formalized as the Liberian Frontier Force—during the mid-19th century. The name proved difficult for the local Mano and Gio peoples to pronounce, leading to variant spellings such as Sanniquellie, Sannquelle, Sanniquelle, and Sanokwelleh. The historic center of the city is located in present-day Bonnah Suah Compound, named after Bonnah G. Suah, who served as District Chief for 25 years. During the 1950s and 1960s, Sanniquellie saw significant infrastructure development. Buildings constructed during the 1950s include the Queen's Theatre, the Public Market, the Old Presidential Palace, a water tower, and a water treatment plant. In 1959, the presidents of Liberia, Guinea, and Ghana met in Sanniquellie for talks that contributed to the eventual establishment of the Organization of African Unity (OAU). Three palava houses were constructed for the three heads of state; these structures now lie in ruins, though a memorial commemorating the event stands at Yekepa Parking. In 1985, former General Thomas G. Quiwonkpa, known as "The Son of the County," launched an incursion into Yekepa, in retaliation for a failed coup d'état. On December 24, 1989, the First Liberian Civil War began in Buutuo, Nimba County. Violence quickly spread to Sanniquellie and the surrounding area, with long-standing tensions between ethnic and religious groups erupting into armed conflict. The Fifth Infantry Battalion's company stationed at New Barracks was attacked and forced to withdraw; the barracks were…

Geography

Sanniquellie lies on the unpaved road connecting Yekepa, Ganta, Gbarnga, Kakata, and Monrovia. The rainy season typically runs from May to October, and the dry season from mid-October through April or May. The coldest temperatures generally occur from the second half of December through the first half of January. The city is divided into several quarters and communities, including Main Street, Bonnah Suah Compound, Charlie Kpowin Community, Veinpa, Dokie Quarter, Dahnlopa, Animal Farm, Airfield Zone 1, Airfield Zone 2, Old Barracks, New Barracks, Gono Quarter, Floyd Island, Plumcor Community, and Underground Community. Sanniquellie is surrounded by tropical rainforest with diverse fauna and flora. Common vegetation includes rubber trees, mango trees, citrus trees, cocoa trees, lianas, various palm trees, and bush grass. Large tracts of forest have been cleared for agriculture, rubber cultivation, and charcoal production; the remaining forest is predominantly secondary growth. Wildlife in the surrounding area includes frogs, lizards, snakes, scorpions, porcupines, monkeys, bats, birds, and numerous insect species, including malaria-carrying mosquitoes. An artificial lake, Lake Teleh, is located in the center of the city.

Most-observed species

• Common Bulbul

  Pycnonotus barbatus (Desfontaines, 1789) · Aves
  80
• Olive Sunbird

  Cyanomitra olivacea (A.Smith, 1840) · Aves
  59
• Little Greenbul

  Eurillas virens (Cassin, 1857) · Aves
  59
• Speckled Tinkerbird

  Pogoniulus scolopaceus (Bonaparte, 1850) · Aves
  56
• Fire-crested Alethe

  Alethe diademata (Bonaparte, 1850) · Aves
  56
• Green Hylia

  Hylia prasina (Cassin, 1855) · Aves
  52
• Collared Sunbird

  Hedydipna collaris (Vieillot, 1819) · Aves
  48
• Red-eyed Dove

  Streptopelia semitorquata (Rüppell, 1837) · Aves
  47