President of Sierra Leone
Encyclopedia
The President of the Republic of Sierra Leone is the head of state
and the head of government
of Sierra Leone
, as well as the commander-in-chief
of the Armed Forces
. The President appoints and heads a Cabinet of ministers
(including the Vice President
), which must be approved by the Parliament
.
between the top two candidates with the most votes in the first round. For qualification to be elected President of Sierra Leone, the person must be a Sierra Leonean citizen by birth; should have attained the age of 40 years; should be a member of a political party
; and should be able to speak and read the English language. The current president of Sierra Leone is Ernest Bai Koroma
. Koroma was sworn in as president on 17 September 2007, shortly after being declared the winner of a tense run-off election.
serves as the official residence of the president of Sierra Leone.
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
and the head of government
Head of government
Head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...
of Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
, as well as the commander-in-chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
of the Armed Forces
Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces
The Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces is the armed forces of Sierra Leone, responsible for the territorial security of Sierra Leone's border and defending the national interests of Sierra Leone, within the framework of its international obligations...
. The President appoints and heads a Cabinet of ministers
Cabinet of Sierra Leone
The Cabinet of Sierra Leone is the chief executive body of the Republic of Sierra Leone.-Cabinet of Sierra Leone :The Cabinet of Sierra Leone is part of the executive branch of the government of Sierra Leone...
(including the Vice President
Vice President of Sierra Leone
The Vice President of Sierra Leone is a position in the executive branch of the Republic of Sierra Leone.-History:When Sierra Leone was declared a Republic in 1971 by then Prime Minister Siaka Stevens, the position of Vice President was created...
), which must be approved by the Parliament
Parliament of Sierra Leone
The unicameral Parliament of Sierra Leone is the country's legislative body. It is sometimes known as the House of Representatives.The current Parliament, formed following elections held on 14 May 2002, has a total of 124 members. 112 members are directly elected in multi-member constituencies...
.
Election
To be elected president of Sierra Leone, a candidate must gain at least 55 percent of the vote. If no candidate gets the 55 percent requirement, there will be a second-round runoffTwo-round system
The two-round system is a voting system used to elect a single winner where the voter casts a single vote for their chosen candidate...
between the top two candidates with the most votes in the first round. For qualification to be elected President of Sierra Leone, the person must be a Sierra Leonean citizen by birth; should have attained the age of 40 years; should be a member of a political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
; and should be able to speak and read the English language. The current president of Sierra Leone is Ernest Bai Koroma
Ernest Bai Koroma
Ernest Bai Koroma is the fourth and current President of Sierra Leone. He was sworn in as President on 17 September 2007 at the State House in the capital Freetown, shortly after being declared the winner of a tense run-off in the 2007 Sierra Leone presidential election with 54.6% of the vote over...
. Koroma was sworn in as president on 17 September 2007, shortly after being declared the winner of a tense run-off election.
Residence
The State House in the capital FreetownFreetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
serves as the official residence of the president of Sierra Leone.
List of Presidents of Sierra Leone
| Name (Birth–Death) |
Took Office | Left Office | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presidents of the Republic of Sierra Leone | |||
| Christopher Okoro Cole (1921–af. 1990) |
19 April 1971 | 21 April 1971 | Non-party |
| Siaka Stevens Siaka Stevens Siaka Probyn Stevens was the 3rd prime minister of Sierra Leone from 1967–1971 and the 1st president of Sierra Leone from 1971–1985. Stevens is generally criticised for dictatorial methods of government in which many of his political opponents were executed, as well as for mismanaging... (1905–1988) |
21 April 1971 | 28 November 1985 | All People's Congress All People's Congress The All People's Congress is one of the two major political parties in Sierra Leone, the other is the Sierra Leone People's Party . The party was founded in 1960 by Pa Mucktarru Kallay, Allieu Badarr Koroma,Alhaji Sheik Gibril Sesay C A Kamara-Taylor, S A T Koroma and Abu Bakarr S Bangura... |
| Joseph Saidu Momoh Joseph Saidu Momoh Major General Joseph Saidu Momoh was the President of Sierra Leone from November, 1985 to April 29, 1992.- Biography :... (1937–2003) |
28 November 1985 | 29 April 1992 | All People's Congress All People's Congress The All People's Congress is one of the two major political parties in Sierra Leone, the other is the Sierra Leone People's Party . The party was founded in 1960 by Pa Mucktarru Kallay, Allieu Badarr Koroma,Alhaji Sheik Gibril Sesay C A Kamara-Taylor, S A T Koroma and Abu Bakarr S Bangura... |
| Chairmen of the National Provisional Defense Council | |||
| Yahya Kanu Yahya Kanu Colonel Yahya Kanu Kanu was a loyalist to president Joseph Saidu Momoh, and his position in the coup is unclear. He was first reported by Reuters to have led the coup, but that same day he went onto the BBC's Focus on Africa to deny that role, claiming instead that he was attempting to negotiate... (?–1992) |
30 April 1992 | 1 May 1992 | Military Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces The Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces is the armed forces of Sierra Leone, responsible for the territorial security of Sierra Leone's border and defending the national interests of Sierra Leone, within the framework of its international obligations... |
| Valentine Strasser Valentine Strasser Valentine Esegragbo Melvine Strasser served as head of state of Sierra Leone from 1992 to 1996. He had been a junior military officer but in 1992, he became the world's youngest Head of State when he seized power three days after his 25th birthday... (1967– ) |
1 May 1992 | July 1992 | Military Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces The Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces is the armed forces of Sierra Leone, responsible for the territorial security of Sierra Leone's border and defending the national interests of Sierra Leone, within the framework of its international obligations... |
| Chairmen of the Supreme Council of State | |||
| Valentine Strasser Valentine Strasser Valentine Esegragbo Melvine Strasser served as head of state of Sierra Leone from 1992 to 1996. He had been a junior military officer but in 1992, he became the world's youngest Head of State when he seized power three days after his 25th birthday... (1967– ) |
July 1992 | 17 January 1996 | Military Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces The Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces is the armed forces of Sierra Leone, responsible for the territorial security of Sierra Leone's border and defending the national interests of Sierra Leone, within the framework of its international obligations... |
| Julius Maada Bio Julius Maada Bio Brigadier Julius Maada Bio is a Sierra Leonean politician who was the military Head of State of Sierra Leone from January 16, 1996 to March 29, 1996 under the National Provisional Ruling Council military junta government.... (1964– ) |
17 January 1996 | 29 March 1996 | Military Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces The Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces is the armed forces of Sierra Leone, responsible for the territorial security of Sierra Leone's border and defending the national interests of Sierra Leone, within the framework of its international obligations... |
| President of the Republic of Sierra Leone | |||
| Ahmad Tejan Kabbah Ahmad Tejan Kabbah Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah served as President of Sierra Leone from 1996 to 1997 and again from 1998 to 2007.He worked for the United Nations Development Programme and returned to Sierra Leone in 1992... (1932– ) |
29 March 1996 | 25 May 1997 | Sierra Leone People's Party Sierra Leone People's Party Sierra Leone People's Party is one of the two major political parties in Sierra Leone, along with the All People's Congress .-Formation:... |
| Chairman of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council Armed Forces Revolutionary Council The Armed Forces Revolutionary Council was a group of Sierra Leone soldiers that allied itself with the rebel Revolutionary United Front in the late 1990s. While the AFRC briefly controlled the country in 1998, it was driven from the capital by a coalition of West African troops... |
|||
| Johnny Paul Koroma Johnny Paul Koroma Johnny Paul Koroma was the Head of State of Sierra Leone from May 1997 to February 1998.-Youth and Education :Koroma grew up in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. However, he was born in Tombodu, Kono District, in eastern Sierra Leone to Limba parents. He is from the same ethnic group as... (1960– ) |
26 May 1997 | 12 February 1998 | Military Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces The Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces is the armed forces of Sierra Leone, responsible for the territorial security of Sierra Leone's border and defending the national interests of Sierra Leone, within the framework of its international obligations... |
| Presidents of the Republic of Sierra Leone | |||
| Ahmad Tejan Kabbah Ahmad Tejan Kabbah Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah served as President of Sierra Leone from 1996 to 1997 and again from 1998 to 2007.He worked for the United Nations Development Programme and returned to Sierra Leone in 1992... (1932– ) |
10 March 1998 | 17 September 2007 | Sierra Leone People's Party Sierra Leone People's Party Sierra Leone People's Party is one of the two major political parties in Sierra Leone, along with the All People's Congress .-Formation:... |
| Ernest Bai Koroma Ernest Bai Koroma Ernest Bai Koroma is the fourth and current President of Sierra Leone. He was sworn in as President on 17 September 2007 at the State House in the capital Freetown, shortly after being declared the winner of a tense run-off in the 2007 Sierra Leone presidential election with 54.6% of the vote over... (1953– ) |
17 September 2007 | Incumbent | All People's Congress All People's Congress The All People's Congress is one of the two major political parties in Sierra Leone, the other is the Sierra Leone People's Party . The party was founded in 1960 by Pa Mucktarru Kallay, Allieu Badarr Koroma,Alhaji Sheik Gibril Sesay C A Kamara-Taylor, S A T Koroma and Abu Bakarr S Bangura... |
Latest election
See also
- List of colonial heads of Sierra Leone
- List of Governors-General of Sierra Leone
- List of heads of government of Sierra Leone