Back سياكا ستيفنز Arabic سياكا ستيفنز ARZ Siaka Stevens AST Siaka Stevens Breton Siaka Stevens German Siaka Stevens Spanish Siaka Stevens Basque سیاکا استیونز Persian Siaka Stevens Finnish Siaka Stevens French
Siaka Probyn Stevens | |
|---|---|
.png) President Stevens delivering a speech at the United States Embassy in Freetown, 1976 | |
| 1st President of Sierra Leone | |
| In office 21 April 1971 – 28 November 1985 | |
| Vice President | Sorie Ibrahim Koroma Christian Alusine Kamara-Taylor Francis Minah |
| Preceded by | Christopher Okoro Cole (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Saidu Momoh |
| 3rd Prime Minister of Sierra Leone | |
| In office 26 April 1968 – 21 April 1971 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governors‑General | Sir Banja Tejan-Sie Christopher Okoro Cole |
| Preceded by | Sir Albert Margai |
| Succeeded by | Sorie Koroma |
| Leader of the All People's Congress (APC) | |
| In office 1962 – 28 November 1985 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Saidu Momoh |
| Mayor of Freetown | |
| In office May 1962 – 17 May 1966 | |
| Succeeded by | Constance Cummings-John |
| Member of Parliament of Sierra Leone from Port Loko District | |
| In office May 1957 – 1958 | |
| Member of Parliament of Sierra Leone from Western Area Urban District | |
| In office 1958–1962 | |
| Sierra Leone Protectorate Minister of Mines, Lands and Labour | |
| In office 1951–1957 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Siaka Probyn Stevens 24 August 1905 Moyamba, British Sierra Leone |
| Died | 29 May 1988 (aged 82) Freetown, Sierra Leone |
| Political party | All People's Congress (APC) |
| Spouse | Rebecca Stevens |
| Alma mater | Fourah Bay College, Ruskin College |
| Profession | Trade unionist, police officer |
Siaka Probyn Stevens (24 August 1905 – 29 May 1988) was the leader of Sierra Leone from 1967 to 1985, serving as Prime Minister from 1967 to 1971 and as President from 1971 to 1985. Stevens' leadership was often characterized by patrimonial rule and self-indulgence, consolidating power by means of corruption and exploitation.[1]
Stevens and his All People's Congress (APC) party won the closely contested 1967 Sierra Leone general elections over incumbent Prime Minister Sir Albert Margai of the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP). In April 1971, Stevens made Sierra Leone a republic and became president a day after the constitution had been ratified by the Sierra Leone Parliament. Though generally considered as the first president of Sierra Leone, technically he was the second President of the Republic after Christopher Okoro Cole, a judge, who was sworn in for a day after which he resigned, paving the way for Stevens.
Stevens served as Chairman of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) from 1 July 1980 to 24 June 1981, and pioneered the creation of the Mano River Union, a three-country economic union comprising Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea.
Stevens retired from office at the end of his term on 28 November 1985. After pressuring all other potential successors to step aside, he chose Major-General Joseph Saidu Momoh, the commander of the Sierra Leone Armed Forces, as his successor. He died on 29 May 1988, in Freetown.
- ^ Smillie, Ian; Gberie, Lansana; Hazleton, Ralph (2000). The Heart of the Matter - Sierra Leone, Diamonds & Human Security (PDF). Partnership Africa Canada. ISBN 0-9686270-4-8. Retrieved 19 September 2021.