List of heads of state 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.

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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.

№ Portrait Monarch
(Birth–Death)		 Reign Royal House Prime Minister
Reign start Reign end Duration
1 Queen Elizabeth II
(1926–)		 27 April 1961 19 April 1971 9 years, 357 days Windsor M. Margai
A. Margai
Stevens

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. 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
  Denotes Chief Justice acting as Officer Administering the Government
№ Portrait Governor-General
(Birth–Death)		 Term of office Monarch Prime Minister
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Sir Maurice Henry Dorman
(1912–1993)		 27 April 1961 5 May 1962 1 year, 8 days Elizabeth II M. Margai
2 Sir Henry Josiah Lightfoot Boston
(1898–1969)		 5 May 1962 11 July 1962 4 years, 322 days Elizabeth II M. Margai
Margai
Stevens
11 July 1962 23 March 1967
(deposed)
3 Sir Banja Tejan-Sie
(1917–2000)		 22 March 1968 29 September 1970 3 years, 9 days Elizabeth II Stevens
29 September 1970 31 March 1971
– Christopher Okoro Cole
(1921–1990)		 31 March 1971 19 April 1971 19 days Elizabeth II Stevens

Military rule (1967–1968)
№ Portrait Head of State
(Birth–Death)		 Term of office Military
Took office Left office Time in office
Brigadier David Lansana
(1922–1975)		 23 March 1967 25 March 1967 2 days Military
Commissioner Leslie William Leigh
(1921–1980)		 25 March 1967 28 March 1967 3 days National Reformation Council
Brigadier Andrew Juxon-Smith
(1931–1996)		 28 March 1967 18 April 1968
(deposed)		 1 year, 21 days National Reformation Council
Brigadier John Amadu Bangura
(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
  Denotes Chief Justice acting as President
№ Portrait President
(Birth–Death)		 Elected Term of office Political party Prime Minister
Took office Left office Time in office
– Christopher Okoro Cole
(1921–1990)		 — 19 April 1971 21 April 1971 2 days [1] Stevens
1 Siaka Stevens
(1905–1988)		 — 21 April 1971 28 November 1985
(retired)		 14 years, 221 days All People's Congress Koroma
Kamara-Taylor
2 Joseph Saidu Momoh
(1937–2003)		 1985 28 November 1985 29 April 1992
(deposed)		 6 years, 153 days All People's Congress Position 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.

№ Portrait Head of State
(Birth–Death)		 Term of office Military
Took office Left office Time in office
3 Captain Yahya Kanu
(died 1992)		 30 April 1992 1 May 1992 1 day National Provisional Defence Council
4 Captain Valentine Strasser
(1967–)		 1 May 1992 6 May 1992 3 years, 261 days National Provisional Ruling Council
6 May 1992 17 January 1996
(deposed)		 Supreme Council of State
5 Brigadier Julius Maada Bio
(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
  Denotes Vice-President acting as President
№ Portrait President
(Birth–Death)		 Elected Term of office Political party
Took office Left office Time in office
6 Ahmad Tejan Kabbah
(1932–2014)		 1996 29 March 1996 25 May 1997
(deposed)		 1 year, 57 days 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.

№ Portrait Head of State
(Birth–Death)		 Term of office Military
Took office Left office Time in office
7 Major Johnny Paul Koroma
(1960–2003?)		 25 May 1997 12 February 1998
(deposed)		 263 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
  Denotes Vice-President acting as President
№ Portrait President
(Birth–Death)		 Elected Term of office Political party
Took office Left office Time in office
(6) Ahmad Tejan Kabbah
(1932–2014)		 2002 13 February 1998 17 September 2007 9 years, 216 days Sierra Leone People's Party
8 Ernest Bai Koroma
(1953–)		 2007
2012		 17 September 2007 4 April 2018 10 years, 199 days All People's Congress
(5) Julius Maada Bio
(1964–)		 2018 4 April 2018 Incumbent 2 years, 133 days Sierra Leone People's Party

Standards
  • Royal Standard
  • Governor-General's Standard
  • Presidential Standard

Living former heads of state

There are three living former Sierra Leonean Heads of State:

Image Name Term/Reign Office Date of birth
Elizabeth II 1961–1971 Queen (1926-04-21) 21 April 1926
Valentine Strasser 1992–1996 Military ruler (1967-04-26) 26 April 1967
Ernest Bai Koroma 2007–2018 President (1953-10-02) 2 October 1953

See also

References
  1. Was Chief Justice of Sierra Leone
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