27 Facts About Siaka Stevens

Siaka Probyn Stevens 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.

Siaka Stevens served as Chairman of the Organisation of African Unity 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.

Siaka Stevens retired from office at the end of his term on 28 November 1985.

Siaka Probyn Stevens was born on 24 August 1905 in Moyamba, Moyamba District in the Southern Province of British Sierra Leone to a Limba father and a Mende mother.

Siaka Stevens completed his primary education in Freetown and completed secondary school at Albert Academy in Freetown, before joining the Sierra Leone Police Force.

From 1931 to 1946, Siaka Stevens worked on the construction of the Sierra Leone Development Company railway, linking the Port of Pepel with the iron ore mines at Marampa.

In 1947, Siaka Stevens was enrolled at Ruskin College where he studied labour relations.

In 1951, Siaka Stevens co-founded the Sierra Leone People's Party and was elected to the Legislative Council.

Siaka Stevens was promptly expelled from the PNP upon his return from the talks.

In elections held on 17 March 1967, the APC won by an extremely narrow margin, and Siaka Stevens was appointed Prime Minister, but he was arrested only several minutes after taking office during a military coup.

Siaka Stevens then resigned, and Stevens became president, with wide executive and legislative powers.

In March 1976 Siaka Stevens was re-elected President unopposed by the House.

Siaka Stevens billed the proposed one-party system as more African than Western-style democracy.

Two years after being re-elected for a five-year term, Siaka Stevens was sworn in for an additional term of seven years, having by then adopted the title of "Dr " He became known as "Pa Shaki".

President Siaka Stevens served as Chairman of the Organisation of African Unity from 1 July 1980 to 24 June 1981, and engineered the creation of the Mano River Union, a three country economic federation of Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.

Siaka Stevens held additional office of Minister of Finance from December 1981 to early 1982.

Siaka Stevens' regime was very repressive and corrupt, even by African standards of the time.

Siaka Stevens had actually shown a deep authoritarian streak long before making Sierra Leone an official one-party state; the late 1960s and early 1970s saw frequent states of emergency and numerous executions of political foes.

Siaka Stevens was hanged along with 14 other people in 1974 after trumped up charges of treason.

Dr Forna was the popular finance minister when Siaka Stevens came to power.

Siaka Stevens had fallen out of favour after protesting about rampant corruption.

Siaka Stevens reached out to communist countries such as North Korea, Cuba and China upon taking office.

Siaka Stevens stated that Spain had no legitimate claim to Gibraltar and he had Sierra Leone's delegation to the United Nations vote accordingly.

Siaka Stevens oversaw Sierra Leone's transition from a Constitutional Monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II as the Queen of Sierra Leone, to a republican form of government with no monarchy.

Siaka Stevens said he was proud of Britain's role in Sierra Leone's history which he believed was mostly positive.

Siaka Stevens said he was proud of having attended Ruskin College.

Siaka Stevens retired from office at the end of his term on 28 November 1985.