List of heads of state of Sierra Leone explained

This is a list of the heads of state of Sierra Leone, from the independence of the Sierra Leone in 1961 to the present day.

From 1961 to 1971 the head of state under the Constitution of 1961 was the Queen of Sierra Leone Elizabeth II, who was also the Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. The monarch was represented in Sierra Leone by a governor-general. Sierra Leone became a republic within the Commonwealth under the Constitution of 1971 and the monarch and governor-general were replaced by an ceremonial president, a year later it became an executive presidency.

Monarch (1961–1971)

The succession to the throne was the same as the succession to the British throne.

Governor-general

The governor-general was the representative of the monarch in Sierra Leone and exercised most of the powers of the monarch. The governor-general was appointed for an indefinite term, serving at the pleasure of the monarch. Since Sierra Leone was granted independence by the Sierra Leone Independence Act 1961, rather than being first established as a semi-autonomous dominion and later promoted to independence as defined by the Statute of Westminster 1931, the governor-general was to be always appointed solely on the advice of the Cabinet of Sierra Leone without the involvement of the British government, with the sole exception of Maurice Henry Dorman, the former colonial governor, who served as governor-general temporarily until he was replaced by Henry Josiah Lightfoot Boston. In the event of a vacancy the chief justice would have served as the officer administering the government.

Status
PortraitName
Term of officeMonarchPrime minister(s)
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1Sir Maurice Henry Dorman
1961 1962Elizabeth IIM. Margai
2Sir Henry Josiah Lightfoot Boston
1962 1962M. Margai
Margai
Stevens
1962 1967
3Sir Banja Tejan-Sie
1968 1970Stevens
1970 1971
Christopher Okoro Cole
1971 1971

Military rule (1967–1968)

PortraitName
Term of officePolitical party
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
David Lansana
1967 1967Military
Leslie William Leigh

1967 1967Military
Andrew Juxon-Smith

1967 1968
Military
John Amadu Bangura

1968 1968Military

Republic (1971–present)

Political parties
Other factions
Status

First Republic (1971–1992)

Under the Constitution of 1971, the first constitution of the Republic of Sierra Leone, the president replaced the monarch as ceremonial head of state; a year later the presidency became an executive head of state, The president was elected by Parliament for a four-year term. The 1978 Constitution proclaimed Sierra Leone as a one-party state, the president was elected for a seven-year term and can only serve two terms, then in 1991 a new Constitution was made to end the status as a one-party state, the president now serves a five-year term and can only serve two terms. In the event of a vacancy the vice-president served as acting president.

PortraitName
ElectedTerm of officePolitical partyPrime minister(s)
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
Christopher Okoro Cole
1971 1971Independent[1] Stevens
1Siaka Stevens
1971 1985
APCKoroma
Kamara-Taylor
2Joseph Saidu Momoh
1985 1985 1992
APCPosition abolished

Military rule (1992–1996)

Valentine Strasser led a coup d'état which overthrew President Momoh and his government, again dissolving all political parties and the Parliament.

PortraitName
Term of officePolitical party
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
3 Yahya Kanu

1992 1992Military
4 Valentine Strasser

1992 1996
Military
5 Julius Maada Bio

1996 1996Military

Second Republic (1996–1997)

When the civilian government was restored so was the Constitution of 1991 and in the 1996 elections the SLPP won the election for most seats in Parliament and the presidential election. In the event of a vacancy the vice-president served as acting president.

Military rule (1997–1998)

Major Johnny Koroma led a coup d'état which overthrew President Kabbah and his government, dissolving all political parties and the Parliament.

Third Republic (1998–present)

The civilian government was restored, as was the Constitution of 1991 and the members of Parliament and the president. In the event of a vacancy the vice-president served as acting president.

PortraitName
ElectedTerm of officePolitical party
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
Ahmad Tejan Kabbah
2002 1998 2007SLPP
8Ernest Bai Koroma
2007
2012
2007 2018APC
(5)Julius Maada Bio
2018
2023
2018IncumbentSLPP

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Was Chief Justice of Sierra Leone