1. Brigadier David Lansana was a Sierra Leonean military officer and prominent military figure in Sierra Leone during its colonial and post-independence period.
20 Facts About David Lansana
1. 2.
On 21 March 1967, David Lansana staged Sierra Leone's first coup d'etat.
3.
David Lansana was charged with treason, tried and found guilty, and was eventually executed on 19 July 1975.
4.
David Lansana was born on 22 March 1922 in Baiima, Mandu Chiefdom, Kailahun District, British Sierra Leone.
5.
David Lansana was the bearer of Sierra Leone's colours during the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
6.
David Lansana was one of a small, elite group of Sierra Leoneans to be educated and trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Berkshire, United Kingdom during the colonial period.
7.
David Lansana was married to Komeh Gulama Lansana, the daughter of Paramount Chief Julius Gulama of Kaiyamba Chiefdom and Madame Lucy Gulama.
8.
David Lansana's father-in-law was a founding member of the Sierra Leone People's Party, the first and oldest political party in the country.
9.
David Lansana's brother-in-law was Paramount Chief Bai Koblo Pathbana II.
10.
David Lansana was appointed army commander of Sierra Leone in 1964.
11.
On 21 March 1967, David Lansana instructed Samuel Hinga Norman to conduct the extrajudicial arrest of the new, democratically elected prime minister Siaka Stevens.
12.
David Lansana then seized control of Government House as well as the national radio and television channels and declared martial law in Sierra Leone.
13.
On 22 March 1967, David Lansana made a second radio broadcast reiterating his declaration of martial law.
14.
David Lansana was determined to restore Albert Margai to power.
15.
David Lansana was said to be weighing his options, including military intervention.
16.
David Lansana was the hereditary ruler of Kaiyamba District, the most powerful Mende chiefdom in Sierra Leone.
17.
David Lansana reportedly advised him not to stand down from the office of prime minister in spite of the APC victory.
18.
David Lansana was reported to have offered him her formidable support and suggested that both Margai bribe Lansana to stage a coup d'etat.
19.
David Lansana was detained at Pademba Road Prison, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
20.
On 19 July 1975, David Lansana was executed by hanging with former Minister of Finance Mohamed Forna, Lieutenant Habib David Lansana Kamara, Ibrahim Bash Taqi, and Paramount Chief Bai Makarie N'silk were executed at Pademba Road Prison.