Sierra Leone is an African nation located on the west coast of the continent. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and Liberia to the south. The country has a population of over 7 million people and its capital is Freetown. The official language is English, but Krio is also widely spoken. The name Sierra Leone comes from the Portuguese phrase 'Sierra Leoa', meaning 'Lion Mountain Range'. The 5-letter answer to the crossword puzzle is LEONE.