Africa has 54 countries with 17 of them located in West Africa. Sierra Leone is one of those 17 West African countries and she is characterized by some remarkable sandy beaches. Its capital is Freetown and the country has a population of approximately 7.3 million people according to the World Bank (2019).
Did you know that Sierra Leone holds one of the most jealous political records in the world? Let me burst your bubble!
Sierra Leone had her independence on April 27, 1961 from Britain, but what is more exciting about this country is that, it holds the record for the youngest president ever to rule a country in the world. Valentine Esegragbo Melvine Strasser became the youngest president at age 25 to rule Sierra Leone in 1992 three days after his birthday and was president for four years from 1992 to 1996. Strasser became the world youngest head of state when he seized power in 1992.
Born on April 26, 1967 in Freetown, Strasser served in the military from 1985 through 1996 when he was ousted by his deputy Brigadier General Julius Maada Bio who led the coup that got Strasser out of office.
It is interesting to note that Valentine Strasser born in 1961 and Maada Bio born on May 12, 1964 are the only two Sierra Leonean presidents to have ever been born after the country had its independence in 1961. Maada Bio assumed office in 2018 at age 54.
According to their most recent constitution, modern day Sierra Leonean presidents rule for five years and can only do so for two terms. Aterm used to be seven years before the constitution was amended.
