- Monarch (1961–1971) Governor-General Military rule (1967–1968)
- First Republic (1971–1992)
- Military rule (1992–1996)
- Second Republic (1996–1997)
- Military rule (1997–1998)
- Second Republic (1998–present)
- Standards
- Living former heads of state
- See also
- References
- External links
{{Politics of Sierra Leone}}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 Sierra Leone Independence Act 1961 was the Queen of Sierra Leone Elizabeth II, who was also the Monarch 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 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. № | Monarch {{small|(Birth–Death) | Portrait | Reign | Royal House | Prime Minister | Reign start | Reign end | Time in office |
---|
1 | Elizabeth II {{small>(b. 1926)}} | 27 April}} 1961 | 19 April}} 1971 | 9 years, 357 days | Windsor | M. Margai A. Margai Stevens |
---|
|
Governor-GeneralThe 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. After the passage of the Statute of Westminster 1931, the Governor-General was appointed solely on the advice of the Cabinet of Sierra Leone without the involvement of the British government. In the event of a vacancy the Chief Justice served as Officer Administering the Government. - Status
{{legend|#E6E6AA|Denotes Chief Justice acting as Officer Administering the Government}}№ | Governor-General {{small|(Birth–Death) | Portrait | Tenure | Monarch | Prime Minister | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
---|
1 | {{small>(1912–1993) | 27 April}} 1961 | 5 May}} 1962 | 1 year, 8 days | Elizabeth II | M. Margai |
---|
2 | Sir Henry Josiah Lightfoot Boston {{small|(1898–1969) | | {{nowrap|5 May}} 1962 | {{nowrap|11 July}} 1962 | 4 years, 322 days | Elizabeth II | M. Margai Margai Stevens |
---|
11 July}} 1962 | 23 March}} 1967 {{small|(deposed)}} | 3 | Sir Banja Tejan-Sie {{small|(1917–2000) | | {{nowrap|22 March}} 1968 | {{nowrap|29 September}} 1970 | 3 years, 9 days | Elizabeth II | Stevens |
---|
29 September}} 1970 | 31 March}} 1971 | |
– | Christopher Okoro Cole {{small>(1921–1990)}} | 31 March}} 1971 | 19 April}} 1971 | 19 days | Elizabeth II | Stevens | |
Military rule (1967–1968)№ | Head of State {{small|(Birth–Death) | Portrait | Tenure | Military | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
---|
Brigadier David Lansana {{small|(1922–1975) | 23 March}} 1967 | 25 March}} 1967 | 2 days | | Military |
---|
Commissioner Leslie William Leigh {{small|(1921–1980) | 25 March}} 1967 | 28 March}} 1968 | 3 days | | National Reformation Council |
---|
Brigadier Andrew Juxon-Smith {{small|(1931–1996) | 28 March}} 1967 | 18 April}} 1968 {{small|(deposed)}} | 1 year, 21 days | | National Reformation Council |
---|
Brigadier John Amadu Bangura {{small|(1930–1970) | 18 April}} 1968 | 22 April}} 1968 | 4 days | | National Interim Council |
---|
|
First Republic (1971–1992)Under the 1971 Constitution, 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. - Status
{{legend|#E6E6AA|Denotes Chief Justice acting as President}}№ | President {{small|(Birth–Death) | Portrait | Tenure | Elected | Political affiliation (at time of appointment) | Prime Minister | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
---|
|
– | Christopher Okoro Cole {{small>(1921–1990)}} | 19 April}} 1971 | 21 April}} 1971 | 2 days | – | | [1] | Stevens | 1 | {{small>(1905–1988) | 21 April}} 1971 | 28 November}} 1985 {{small|(retired)}} | 14 years, 219 days | – | | All People's Congress | Koroma Kamara-Taylor |
---|
2 | {{small>(1937–2003) | 28 November}} 1985 | 29 April}} 1992 {{small|(deposed)}} | 6 years, 154 days | 1985 | | All People's Congress | Position abolished |
---|
|
Military rule (1992–1996)Captain Yahya Kanu led a coup d'état which overthrew President Momoh and his government, again dissolving all political parties and the Parliament. № | Head of State {{small|(Birth–Death) | Portrait | Tenure | Military | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
---|
3 | Captain Yahya Kanu {{small|(d. 1992) | 30 April}} 1992 | 1 May}} 1992 | 1 day | | National Provisional Defence Council |
---|
4 | {{small|Captain Valentine Strasser {{small|(b. 1967) | | 1 May}} 1992 | 6 May}} 1992 | 3 years, 259 days | | National Provisional Ruling Council |
---|
6 May}} 1992 | 17 January}} 1996 {{small|(deposed)}} | Supreme Council of State | 5 | Brigadier Julius Maada Bio {{small|(b. 1964) | 17 January}} 1996 | 29 March}} 1996 | 72 days | | Supreme Council of State |
---|
|
Second Republic (1996–1997)When the civilian government was restored so was the 1991 Constitution 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. - Status
{{legend|#E6E6AA|Denotes Vice-President acting as President}}№ | President {{small|(Birth–Death) | Portrait | Tenure | Elected | Political affiliation (at time of appointment) | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
---|
6 | {{small>(1932–2014) | 29 March}} 1996 | 25 May}} 1997 {{small|(deposed)}} | 1 year, 56 days | 1996 | | Sierra Leone People's Party |
---|
|
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. № | Head of State {{small|(Birth–Death) | Portrait | Tenure | Military | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
---|
7 | Major Johnny Paul Koroma {{small|(1960–2003?) | 25 May}} 1997 | 12 February}} 1998 {{small|(deposed)}} | 264 days | | Armed Forces Revolutionary Council |
---|
|
Second Republic (1998–present)The civilian government was restored so was the 1991 Constitution and the Members of Parliament and the President. In the event of a vacancy the Vice-President served as Acting President. - Status
{{legend|#E6E6AA|Denotes Vice-President acting as President}}№ | President {{small|(Birth–Death) | Portrait | Tenure | Elected | Political affiliation (at time of appointment) | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
---|
(6) | {{small>(1932–2014) | 13 February}} 1998 | 17 September}} 2007 | 9 years, 216 days | 2002 | | Sierra Leone People's Party |
---|
8 | {{small>(1953–) | 17 September}} 2007 | 4 April}} 2018 | 10 years 200 days | 2007 2012 | | All People's Congress |
---|
(5) | {{small>(1964–) | 4 April}} 2018 | Incumbent}} | 160 days | 2018 | | Sierra Leone People's Party |
---|
|
StandardsLiving former heads of stateThere are three living former Sierra Leonean Heads of State: Image | Name | Term/Reign | Office | Date of birth |
---|
Elizabeth II | 1961–1971 | Queen | 1926|4|21|df=y}} | Valentine Strasser | 1992–1996 | Military ruler | 1967|4|26|df=y}} | Ernest Bai Koroma | 2007–2018 | President | 1953|10|2|df=y}} | |
See also- Sierra Leone presidents and head of state by tribes
References1. ^Was Chief Justice of Sierra Leone
External links- World Statesmen – Sierra Leone
- Rulers.org – Sierra Leone
{{Years in Sierra Leone}}{{Heads of State of Sierra Leone}}{{Representatives of the monarch in Commonwealth realms and Dominions}} 4 : Government of Sierra Leone|Lists of political office-holders in Sierra Leone|Presidents of Sierra Leone|Lists of heads of state |