Chief of the Defence Staff (Sierra Leone)
Chief of the Defence Staff | |
---|---|
![]() Coat of arms of Sierra Leone | |
Ministry of Defence | |
Abbreviation | CDS |
Reports to | Minister of Defence |
Nominator | President of Sierra Leone |
Appointer | Parliament of Sierra Leone |
Formation | 1957 |
First holder | R. D. Blakie |
Website | Official website |
TheChief of the Defence Staff(CDS) is the professional head of theRepublic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces.He is responsible for the administration and the operational control of theSierra Leoneanmilitary. It is the highest rank military position in the country.
In 1985, GeneralJoseph Saidu Momoh,the army commander, succeed PresidentSiaka Stevens.It is not clear what exactly Momoh's title was but it seems likely that he was the senior Sierra Leonean military officer and held the predecessor to the CDS's post.
Brigadier GeneralTom Carewwas Chief of Defence Staff from April 2000 to November 2004. He may have been promoted toMajor Generalduring his tenure.[1]Major GeneralAlfred Nelson-Williamswas the Chief of the Defence Staff of the Republic of the Armed Forces, between 2008-2010. Nelson-Williams succeeded the retiring Major GeneralEdward Sam M'bomaon 12 September 2008.[2]The current chief is Lieutenant General Sullay Ibrahim Sesay.[3]
List of chiefs[edit]
No. | Picture | Chief of the Defence Staff | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | R. D. Blakie | Brigadier1962 | 1964 | 1–2 years | [4] | |
2 | David Lansana (1922–1975) | Brigadier1964 | 1967 | 2–3 years | [4] | |
3 | Andrew Juxon-Smith (1931–1996) | Brigadier1967 | 1968 | 0–1 years | [4] | |
4 | John Amadu Bangura (1930–1971) | Brigadier1968 | 1971 | 2–3 years | [4] | |
5 | Joseph Saidu Momoh (1937–2003) | Major General1971 | 28 November 1985 | 13–14 years | [4] | |
6 | M.S. Tarawallie | Major General1985 | 1992 | 6–7 years | [4] | |
7 | Jusu Gottor | Major General1992 | 1994 | 1–2 years | [4] | |
8 | Kellie Conteh | Brigadier1994 | 1995 | 0–1 years | [4] | |
9 | Julius Maada Bio (born 1964) | Brigadier1995 | 1996 | 0–1 years | [4] | |
10 | Joy Turay | Brigadier1996 | 1996 | 0 years | [4] | |
11 | Hassan Conteh | Brigadier1996 | 1997 | 0–1 years | [4] | |
12 | Maxwell Mitikishi Khobe (1950–2000) | Brigadier GeneralApril 1998 | April 2000 | 2 years | [4] | |
13 | Tom Carew | Major GeneralApril 2000 | November 2004 | 4 years, 7 months | [1] | |
14 | Edward Sam M'boma | Major General2005 | 12 September 2008 | 2–3 | [5][2] | |
15 | Alfred Nelson-Williams | Major General12 September 2008 | August 2010 | 1 year, 10 months | [6] | |
16 | Robert Yira Koroma (?–2020) | Major GeneralAugust 2010 | 3 July 2012 | 1 year, 11 months | [6] | |
17 | Samuel Omar Williams (?–2016) | Lieutenant General24 July 2012 | April 2016 | 3 years, 8 months | [4] | |
18 | John Edson Milton (born 1960) | Lieutenant General14 April 2016 | 29 November 2017 | 1 year, 229 days | [4] | |
19 | Brima Sesay (born 1965) | Lieutenant General29 November 2017 | 29 June 2020 | 2 years, 213 days | [7] | |
20 | Sullay Ibrahim Sesay | Lieutenant General29 June 2020 | Incumbent | 4 years, 7 days | [3] |
References[edit]
- ^ab"Sierra Leone: Security Information".Archived fromthe originalon 20 July 2011.Retrieved17 November2009.
- ^abNew Vision, Freetown, 15 September 2008
- ^abState House Media and Communications Unit."Sierra Leone's New Chief of Defence Staff, Joint-Force Commander Subscribe to Oath of Office at State House".statehouse.gov.sl.Retrieved11 June2021.
- ^abcdefghijklmn"Home Page".mod.gov.sl.Ministry of Defence. 2018. Archived fromthe originalon 2 May 2018.Retrieved4 May2018.
- ^Kamara, Saidu (20 February 2007)."Ahead of 2007 Elections…Chief of Defense Staff Rejects Polling Boxes".standardtimespress.net.Archived fromthe originalon 24 July 2011.
- ^abThomas, Abdul R. (11 September 2010)."The Sacking of Sierra Leone's Military and Police Chiefs: Can Good Men become so bad so soon?".The Sierra Leone Telegraph.Archived fromthe originalon 27 September 2010.Retrieved4 August2011.
- ^Government of Sierra Leone (30 November 2017)."New Army Chief of Defence Staff and Police boss in Sierra Leone".Cocorioko.Retrieved1 May2018.