David Lansana
David Lansana | |
|---|---|
 David Lansana arriving for a visit in Israel April 1965 | |
| Birth name | David Lansana |
| Born | March 22, 1922 Baiima,Mandu Chiefdom, Kailahun District,British Sierra Leone |
| Died | July 19, 1975(aged 53) Pademba Road Prison,Freetown,Sierra Leone |
| Buried | Freetown, Sierra Leone |
| Allegiance |  Sierra Leone |
| Years of service | 1947–1972 |
| Rank | |
| Commands held |
|
| Spouse(s) | Komeh Gulama Lansana |
| Children |
|
| Relations |
|
Brigadier David Lansana(22 March 1922[1]– 19 July 1975[2]) was the first prominent Sierra Leonean in theSierra Leone Militaryduring thecolonial era.[3]AfterSierra Leonegained independence, he served asMilitary Attachéto theUnited States.
Lansana was one of the most distinguished officers in the history of theSierra Leone Armed Forces.He was one of the first Sierra Leoneans to train at theRoyal Military Academy Sandhurst,Berkshire,United Kingdom.
Through his marriage toKomeh Gulama Lansana,the daughter ofParamount Chief Julius Gulama of Kaiyamba Chiefdom,Lansana was therefore a relative ofParamount Chief Ella Koblo Gulamaand her husbandParamount Chief Bai Koblo Pathbana II,two of the nation's most influential politicians.
On 21 March 1967, Lansana staged Sierra Leone's firstcoup d'état.[4]Lansana was charged with treason, tried and found guilty. He was executed on 19 July 1975.
Early life and education[edit]
Lansana was born on 22 March 1922 inBaiima,Mandu Chiefdom, Kailahun District,British Sierra Leone.[3]He was aMende.
In 1947, he enlisted as a private and began his training in the Sierra Leone Army.[5]Lansana was the bearer of Sierra Leone's colours during the coronation ofQueen Elizabeth II.[5]
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst[edit]
Lansana was one of a small, elite group of Sierra Leoneans to be educated and trained at theRoyal Military Academy Sandhurst,Berkshire,United Kingdomduring thecolonial period.[3]
As a Lieutenant, he was a frequent and popular visitor to the home of SirRobert de Zouche Hall,Governor of Sierra Leonefrom 1952 to 1956.[citation needed]
Marriage and family[edit]
He was married toKomeh Gulama Lansana,the daughter ofParamount Chief Julius Gulamaof Kaiyamba Chiefdom andMadame Lucy Gulama.[6]The Gulamas areMenderoyalty and among the most important ruling families inSierra Leone.[6]
His father-in-law was a founding member of theSierra Leone People's Party,the first and oldest political party in the country.[6]His sister-in-law wasParamount Chief Ella Koblo Gulama.[6]His brother-in-law wasParamount Chief Bai Koblo Pathbana II.
Lansana and his wife had five children Sheku, Judy, Tala, Foday, and Kornya. Lansana also had a son, Daniel, from another relationship.[7]
Force Commander of the Sierra Leone Military[edit]
He was appointed army commander ofSierra Leonein 1964.[8]
When his close friend and allyPrime Minister Albert Margaicame to power, Brigadier Lansana took control of the army from British colonial adviser, Brigadier R.D. Blackie. Margai promoted a one-party (non-democratic) state. Both Lansana and Margai came from theMende tribewhich exacerbated existing conflicts with the northern tribes and theKrios.[8]Northern and Krio officers were systematically purged from the armed forces.[9]
Sierra Leone's first coup d'état[edit]
1967 general election[edit]
On 17 March 1967, Margai was defeated in the general election. TheAll People's Congress (APC)won 32 seats in parliament while Margai'sSLPPheld on to just 28 seats.[4]
Martial law[edit]
Sierra Leonewas the first country in postcolonial Africa to hold a successfuldemocratic election.[4][10]This distinction lasted only four days. On 21 March 1967, Lansana instructedSamuel Hinga Normanto conduct the extrajudicial arrest of the new, democratically elected prime ministerSiaka Stevens.[4][10]The arrest took place prior to the announcement of the election result.[4][10]
Lansana then seized control ofGovernment Houseas well as the national radio and television channels and declaredmartial lawinSierra Leone.[4][10]
On 22 March 1967, Lansana made a second radio broadcast reiterating his declaration ofmartial law.[4][10]He was determined to restoreAlbert Margaito power.[11][12]
Counter coup[edit]
Lansana's unilateral decision was unpopular with many of his fellow Mende officers who did not believe the army should be a tool of internal government.[13]In addition to this, before the coup d'état his influence with his subordinates had been compromised by accusations of "drunkenness" and "womanizing".[5]
On 23 March 1967, Major Charles Blake and other senior military officers relieved Lansana of his command.[4]They established theNational Reformation Council (NRC)and took control of the government.[4]
Subsequently,Lt.-Colonel Andrew Juxon-Smith,of theKriocommunity, who was abroad when the coup took place, was asked to return and head theNRCmilitary regime in 1968.[4]
Arrest[edit]
Both Lansana and his sister-in-lawParamount Chief Ella Koblo Gulamawere arrested on charges of treason and detained at Padema Road Prison. Both were charged withconspiracywith formerPrime Minister Albert Margai.[5]
The claim was based on a meeting betweenGulamaandMargaion 19 March 1967 in which Margai is said to have expressed his wish not to lose his office.[5]He was said to be weighing his options, including military intervention.[5]
Gulamawas aminister without portfolioinMargai'sgovernment.[5]She was also the hereditary ruler of Kaiyamba District, the most powerfulMendechiefdom inSierra Leone.[citation needed]She reportedly advised him not to stand down from the office ofprime ministerin spite of theAPCvictory.[5]She was also reported to have offered him her formidable support and suggested that both Margai bribe Lansana to stage a coup d'état.[5]
The charges againstGulamacould not be proven and she was released from prison after one and a half year.[5]
Incarceration and execution[edit]
Lansana was detained atPademba Road Prison,Freetown,Sierra Leone.[14]
On 19 July 1975, Lansana was executed by hanging with former Minister of FinanceMohamed Forna,LieutenantHabib Lansana Kamara,Ibrahim Bash Taqi,andParamount Chief Bai Makarie N’silkwere executed atPademba Road Prison.[14]
After their executions, their bodies were displayed for an hour.[14]
See also[edit]
- Komeh Gulama Lansana
- Paramount Chief Julius Gulama
- Madame Lucy Gulama
- Ella Koblo Gulama
- Paramount Chief Bai Koblo Pathbana II
- Sir Albert Margai
- Siaka Probyn Stevens
References[edit]
- ^Sandiford, Keith A. P. (2008).A Black Studies Primer: Heroes and Heroines of the African Diaspora.ISBN9781906190064.
- ^Taylor, Bankole Kamara (February 2014).Sierra Leone: The Land, Its People and History.ISBN9789987160389.
- ^abcFyle, Magbaily C. (2006-03-27).Historical Dictionary of Sierra Leone.Scarecrow Press. p.101.Retrieved2018-07-13.
%22david%20lansana%22.
- ^abcdefghijBundu, Abass (2001).Democracy by Force?: A Study of International Military Intervention in the Civil War in Sierra Leone from 1991-2000.Universal-Publishers.ISBN9781581126983.Retrieved2018-07-15.
- ^abcdefghijOjukutu-Macauley, Sylvia; Rashid, Ismail (2013-10-10).The Paradoxes of History and Memory in Post-Colonial Sierra Leone.Lexington Books.ISBN9780739180037.Retrieved2018-07-15.
- ^abcdTribute to the Honourable PC Ella Koblo Gulama
- ^"ISEC Global - Our Team".www.isecglobal.net.Archived fromthe originalon 2018-07-13.Retrieved2018-07-13.
- ^abPolitical leadership in Sierra Leone by John R. Cartwright page 80.
- ^Harkness, Kristen A. (2016). "SAGE Journals: Your gateway to world-class journal research".Journal of Conflict Resolution.60(4): 587–616.doi:10.1177/0022002714545332.hdl:10023/9391.S2CID54538341.
- ^abcdeWoods, Larry J. (2010).Military Interventions in Sierra Leone: Lessons from a Failed State.DIANE Publishing.ISBN9781437923100.Retrieved2018-07-16.
- ^Politics in Sierra Leone 1947-67 by John R. Cartwright, pg. 253
- ^Cartwright, John R. (1970).Politics in Sierra Leone 1947-67.ISBN9780802016874.
- ^Political leadership in Sierra Leone by John R. Cartwright pages 80-81.
- ^abcVanguard, The Patriotic (2009-07-21)."34 years after the execution of Mohamed Sorie Fornah and 14 others".The Patriotic Vanguard.Retrieved2018-07-13.
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†denotes military ruler | ||
- 1922 births
- 1975 deaths
- 20th-century executions by Sierra Leone
- Executed Sierra Leonean people
- Graduates of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
- Leaders who took power by coup
- Mende people
- People executed by Sierra Leone by hanging
- Prime ministers of Sierra Leone
- Sierra Leonean military personnel
- Sierra Leonean royalty
- People from Kailahun District
- Sierra Leonean expatriates in the United States
- 20th-century Sierra Leonean politicians