Political Leaders: Sierra Leone

Leaders of Sierra Leone
(Republic of Sierra Leone)

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Look for biographies of the leaders (in Spanish) at CIDOB website.

Note: From the attainment of the independence (27 Apr 1961) to the proclamation of the Republic (19 Apr 1971), the head of State was the Brirish monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who was represented by a Governor-General. The prime ministers ruled with strong executive powers in this period.

Parties: SLPP: Sierra Leone People's Party - APC: All People's Congress

Heads of State

Governors-General
Maurice Henry Dorman         27 Apr 1961 -  5 May 1962 (†1993) n/p
Henry Lightfoot Boston        5 May 1962 - 22 Apr 1968 (†1969) n/p (acting to 11 Jul 1962; suspended from 14 Apr 1967) 
Banja Tejan-Sie              22 Apr 1968 - 31 Mar 1971 (†2000) (acting to 29 Sep 1970) 
Christopher Okoro Cole       31 Mar 1971 - 19 Apr 1971 (†1990) n/p (interim)

Presidents of the Republic
Christopher Okoro Cole       19 Apr 1971 - 21 Apr 1971 (†1990) n/p
Siaka Probyn Stevens         21 Apr 1971 - 28 Nov 1985 (†1988) APC
Joseph Saidu Momoh           28 Nov 1985 - 29 Apr 1992 (†2003) APC         

Chairman of the National Provisional Defence Council
Yahya Kanu                   29 Apr 1992 -  1 May 1992 (†1992) military

Chairman of the National Provisional Ruling Council
Valentine Esegragbo Strasser  1 May 1992 - 14 Jul 1992         military (1)

Chairmen of the Supreme Council of State 
Valentine Esegragbo Strasser 14 Jul 1992 - 16 Jan 1996         military 
Julius Maada Bio             16 Jan 1996 - 29 Mar 1996         military (2)

President of the Republic
Ahmad Tejan Kabbah           29 Mar 1996 - 25 May 1997 (†2014) SLPP

Chairman of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council
Johnny Paul Koroma           26 May 1997 - 12 Feb 1998 (†2003) military (3)

Presidents of the Republic
Ahmad Tejan Kabbah           10 Mar 1998 - 17 Sep 2007 (†2014) SLPP
Ernest Bai Koroma            17 Sep 2007 -  4 Apr 2018         APC
Julius Maada Bio              4 Apr 2018 -                     SLPP

(1) Also styled Head of State since 6 May 1992.
(2) Also styled head of State.
(3) Self-styled head of State since 17 Jun 1997.

Heads of Government

Chief Minister
Milton Augustus Margai        9 Jul 1954 - 14 Aug 1958 (†1964) SLPP

Premier
Milton Augustus Margai       14 Aug 1958 -  9 Jul 1960 (†1964) SLPP

Prime Ministers
Milton Augustus Margai        9 Jul 1960 - 28 Apr 1964 (†1964) SLPP
Albert Michael Margai        29 Apr 1964 - 21 Mar 1967 (†1980) SLPP
David Lansana                21 Mar 1967 - 23 Mar 1967 (†1975) military 

Chairmen of the National Reformation Council
Ambrose Patrick Genda        23 Mar 1967 - 27 Mar 1967 (†2002) military 
Andrew Terence Juxon-Smith   27 Mar 1967 - 18 Apr 1968 (†1996) military

Chairman of the National Interim Council
Patrick Saidu Conteh         18 Apr 1968 - 26 Apr 1968         military (interim) 

Prime Ministers
Siaka Probyn Stevens         26 Apr 1968 - 21 Apr 1971 (†1988) APC
Sorie Ibrahim Koroma         21 Apr 1971 -  8 Jul 1975 (†1994) APC 
Christian Kamara-Taylor       8 Jul 1975 - 15 Jun 1978 (†1985) APC  

Chairmen of the Council of State Secretaries
John Benjamin                14 Jul 1992 -    Nov 1992         military 
Solomon Anthony James Musa      Nov 1992 -  5 Jul 1993 (†1999) military
Julius Maada Bio              5 Jul 1993 - 31 Mar 1995         military
Akim Gibril                  31 Mar 1995 - 29 Mar 1996         military 

Chief ministers
David John Francis            8 May 2018 - 30 Apr 2021         SLPP     
Jacob Jusu Saffa             30 Apr 2021 - 10 Jul 2023         SLPP 
David Moinina Sengeh         10 Jul 2023 -                     SLPP

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