Siaka Stevens

Siaka Probyn Stevens
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 (1905-08-24)24 August 1905 Moyamba, British Sierra Leone
Died	29 May 1988(1988-05-29) (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.