21 Facts About Samura Kamara

Dr Samura Mathew Wilson Kamara is a Sierra Leonean politician and economist.

Samura Kamara was the All Peoples Congress Party's candidate for President of Sierra Leone in the 2018 election and 2023 election.

Samura Kamara was the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Sierra Leone from 2012 to 2017, Minister of Finance and Economic Development from 2009 to 2013, Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone from 2007 to 2009, Financial Secretary in the Ministry of Finance during President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah's administration.

Samura Mathew Wilson Kamara was born in Kamalo, Karene District, North-Western Province of Sierra Leone, then a colony of United Kingdom.

Samura Kamara's mother, Ya Bomporro Kamara is an indigene of Kamalo, Sanda Loko Chiefdom, Karene District, North-Western Region.

Samura Kamara continued his education at the Saint Edwards Secondary School in Freetown, stayed at Montague Street and Guard Street, Eastern Freetown, and was very active in football circles as a goalkeeper.

Samura Kamara proceeded to Fourah Bay College where he earned a bachelor's degree in Economics in 1972.

Samura Kamara holds a PhD in Development Economics from Bangor University in Wales, United Kingdom.

Samura Kamara was in 1994 appointed Programme Manager by the World Bank for its Structural Support Programme to the country.

Samura Kamara served as Financial Secretary during this time as part of efforts to build trust in the management of the mainly international donor flows which constituted over three quarters of the government's non- military financial receipts.

Samura Kamara became Secretary of State, Finance in January 1996 after Julius Maada Bio overthrew Valentine Strasser.

Samura Kamara subsequently served as Financial Secretary, and as Bank Governor, Minister of Finance, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in the APC Administration of Ernest Bai Koroma.

Samura Kamara chaired the African Caucus constituency meetings two years in a row.

Samura Kamara has on several occasions chaired the Peace and Security Council of the AU.

Samura Kamara is currently leading Africa's ministerial negotiating team on the reform of the United Nations.

Samura Kamara, who contested the previous election with Bio in 2018 announced his candidacy for the leadership of the All People's Congress ahead of the 2023 Sierra Leone presidential and parliamentary elections.

Samura Kamara is one of seven candidates for the APC leadership.

Samura Kamara was chosen as Flag Bearer in 2018 by selection by then outgoing president and APC party chairman Ernest Koroma, instead of election- a move that was unpopular with the majority of APC supporters.

Samura Kamara is married to Mrs Elizabeth Massah Kamara.

Mrs Samura Kamara is an indigene of Pujehun District in the Southern Province.

Samura Kamara's mother hailed from Masam Kpaka and her father from Blama Massaquoi.