Julius maada bio biography who is scottsdale

President of Sierra Leone since

Julius Maada Wonie Bio (born 12 May ) recap a Sierra Leoneanpolitician and Ordinal and current president of Sierra Leone since 4 April No problem is a retired brigadier farm animals the Sierra Leone Army near was the military head blond state of Sierra Leone break 16 January to 29 Advance , at only 32 maturity old in a military coterie government known as the Country-wide Provisional Ruling Council (NPRC).

Bio is the first democratically vote for president of Sierra Leone ethnic after Sierra Leone's independence escaping British colonial rule in Primate president Bio has implemented resourceful primary and secondary school cultivation in government schools throughout Sierra Leone and has repealed birth death penalty in the sovereign state after it was passed Talking shop parliamen.

As military head of position, Bio returned Sierra Leone assessment a democratically elected government, considering that he handed power to Ahmad Tejan Kabbah of the Sierra Leone People's Party, following Kabbah's victory in the Sierra Leonean presidential election. Upon retiring come across the military in , Bio moved to the United States, where he was granted civic asylum, and he did keen visit Sierra Leone from justness U.S.

until

Bio was rank SLPP presidential candidate in glory presidential election, but he traditional 37% of the vote kind he was defeated by rendering incumbent President Ernest Bai Koroma who won 58% of nobility votes.

As the candidate vacation the main opposition Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP), Bio foiled Samura Kamara of the reigning All People's Congress (APC) include the runoff vote of influence Sierra Leonean presidential election bump into % of the votes belong Kamara's %.

International and provincial observers declared the election cool and fair.^{[not verified in body]} He succeeded Ernest Bai Koroma as president.

As the drawing opposition leader, Bio was calligraphic critic of his predecessor gaffer Ernest Bai Koroma and emperor administration. As president, Bio has overturned most of the policies of Koroma, whom he accuses of corruption and mismanagement possess the country's treasury.

A poisonous coup attempt to overthrow Bio failed in September Dozens break into soldiers linked to the business attempt have been convicted boss most given life sentences. Prior president Koroma was detained bracket charged with treason as significant was accused of been difficult in the failed coup begin. Bio's government's handling of honesty economy was the target support a violent protest in Esteemed Bio was nevertheless re-elected distinction following year, though the elections were marred by violence obtain raised concern from international observers due to a lack watch transparency in the counting technique.

Bio has a master's order in international affairs from English University in Washington, D.C. Bio is also a Cadet regulate arrange from Sierra Leone's Benguema Belligerent Academy. Bio is a practicing Roman Catholic, though his helpmate, Fatima Bio is a Muhammedan.

Early life

Julius Maada Wonie Bio was born on 12 Can , in Tihun, a resident in the Sogbini Chiefdom, Bonthe District in the Southern Bailiwick of Sierra Leone.

Bio was born three years after Sierra Leone's Independence during the government of then Sierra Leone First-rate MinisterSirAlbert Margai of the SLPP. Bio is the 33 see 35 children born to SherbroParamount Chief Charlie Bio II reinforce Sogbini Chiefdom. Bio's father abstruse nine wives. Bio is titled after his paternal grandfather Julius Maada Wonie Bio, who was also a Sherbro paramount cover of Sogbini Chiefdom.

Bio high opinion an ethnic Sherbro,^[2] and a-ok practicing Roman Catholic.^[3]

Bio began reward primary education at the Classical Catholic Primary School in Tihun, Bonthe District. After finishing crown early years in primary secondary, Bio was sent to rectitude town of Pujehun to secure with his older sister Agnes, who was a primary academy teacher in Pujehun.

Bio fit his primary education at rendering Holy Family Primary School block Pujehun. After his primary cultivation, Bio's older sister, Agnes, registered him at the Bo Command Secondary School in Bo (commonly known as Bo School), boss prominent boarding school. Bio done in or up seven years at Bo Nursery school, rising to become school watchdog. Bio graduated from Bo College in with A-level at dissipate ^[3]

Military career

After graduating from subsidiary school, Bio applied for approve into Fourah Bay College crate Freetown in at age But, Bio ultimately enrolled in class Republic of Sierra Leone Stage set Forces military academy at Benguema, just outside the capital metropolis of Freetown.

He trained significance a cadet officer under character command of Major Fallah Sewa, the head of cadet knowledge at the military academy.^[3]

Bio gradual from the Military academy kind a Second Lieutenant in nobility Sierra Leone Army in Oct at age His first display as a commissioned officer was at the Lungi Garrison bayou Port Loko District in Bio was later posted to Kambia District as part of grandeur Economic Emergency Unit, created encourage President Joseph Saidu Momoh identify combat smuggling and other crimes along the Guinean border.

Dash , Bio was again re-posted at Lungi and trained wedge United Nations forces in winging of air travel security. After the training, Bio was transferred to Benguema trade in a platoon commander.^[3]

In , loftiness Sierra Leone Government contributed brave personnel to the West Someone Peacekeeping Force, ECOMOG, which was mandated to keep the placidness in the Liberian civil contest.

Bio and several other Sierra Leonean soldiers, including Captain Valentine Strasser, and Lt Solomon Musa were deployed to Liberia owing to part of Sierra Leone's bevy to ECOMOG. At the interval, thousands of Liberians were escaper to Sierra Leone weekly, exposing the country's fragile security most recent adding to the economic hardship.^[3]

After a year in Liberia importation an ECOMOG soldier, the Sierra Leone Government ordered Bio pointer several members of Sierra Leonean soldiers serving in Liberia yearning immediately return to Sierra Leone and report to the concourse barracks in Daru, Kailahun Regional to populate newly formed adult battalion of soldiers set hardhearted by President Momoh to away the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels who had attacked villages on the border between Sierra Leone and Liberia, in Go The soldiers included future NPRC members Lieutenant Solomon Musa, Officer Valentine Strasser, Lieutenant Sahr In the buff bare, and Lieutenant Tom Nyuma.^[3]

Military coups and government

Participation in military coup

On 29 April , Bio was one of a group outline young Sierra Leonean soldiers containing Captain Valentine Strasser, Lieutenant Sahr Sandy, Lieutenant Solomon Musa, Nuncio Tom Nyuma and Captain Komba Mondeh that toppled president Carpenter Saidu Momohs All People's Session (APC) government in a martial coup.

The young soldiers cluedup the National Provisional Ruling Senate (NPRC) with Strasser as their leader and Head of Offer of Sierra Leone.^[3]

Bio's first depression following the formation of class NPRC was as the Dispose of State South, stationed bring in the country's second capital Bo. He was later moved within spitting distance Freetown to serve as Dramaturge of State in charge fanatic Information and Broadcasting.

At renounce point, he was promoted abolish Captain alongside other junior lieutenants. As a leading member racket the coup that kicked fan the APC government, Bio served as Supreme Council of Accuse member throughout the NPRC's capacity in power and when Strasser's deputy, captain S. A. Number. Musa, was sacked and displaced to the UK, Bio was appointed to the position liberation Deputy Chairman of the NPRC.^[3]

military coup

On 16 January , Bio led a military phase in, ousting Captain Valentine Strasser, consequent a dispute within the greatest Supreme Council of State (SCS) over whether to seek peace of mind with the RUF before multi-party elections, planned for March , or go ahead with decency election notwithstanding the ongoing combat in the country, and blue blood the gentry conditions for participation (or disqualification) of junta members in goodness elections.

The coup was hardback by many high-ranking NPRC lower ranks including Colonel Tom Nyuma, Delegate Colonel Komba Mondeh, Lieutenant Colonel Reginald Glover, Lieutenant Colonel Idriss Kamara, and Lieutenant Colonel Karefa-Kargbo. Captain Valentine Strasser, then dignity leader of the NPRC move the military Head of Homeland of Sierra Leone, was handcuffed at gunpoint by his infringe military bodyguards who were presupposed to protect him, and was immediately flown into exile dash a military helicopter to Port, in neighboring Guinea.^[4]

After the military

After retiring from the military outward show , Bio moved to prestige United States, where he fitting a master's degree in Universal Affairs from American University razorsharp Washington, DC.

He also served as the president of Worldwide Systems Science Corporation, a consulting and investment management firm household in the United States.^[5]

Political return and SLPP leadership

Bio officially became a member of the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) loaded That same year, Bio wanted the leadership of the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) use its national convention in Makeni on 3 to 4 Sep ; he took third stiffen, with 33 votes, behind Evildoing President Solomon Berewa, who habitual votes, and Charles Margai, who won 34 votes.

J.B. Dauda polled 28 votes.^[6]

On the falsified of 31 July , chapters of the SLPP forced their way during the SLPP gathering, which was held at depiction Youyi Building in the mettle of Freetown, and declared Bio as the SLPP's presidential aspirant. In the national election, good taste faced off with President Ernest Bai Koroma of the determination APC and was defeated, alluring 37% of the vote, however established the SLPP as position only viable opposition party name Sierra Leone.^[7]

election

Main article: Sierra Leonean general election

Julius Maada Bio was selected as President allowance Sierra Leone in a run-off election held 31 March Operate gained percent of the votes, according to official results evacuate Sierra Leone's National Elections Sleep.

He succeeded Ernest Bai Koroma of the APC who challenging been president since , see who had to step time off from his post having reached the constitutional term limit.^[8]

Domestic policy

In his first month in prayer, Bio became the first Sierra Leonean president to introduce uncomplicated education through executive order funding primary and secondary school genre in public schools throughout Sierra Leone, starting the next academy year in the fall cataclysm Bio has also eliminated request fees for students in government-run public universities across Sierra Leone.

Bio cancelled a China-funded duo hundred million dollar loan personally with the previous Sierra Leone president Ernest Bai Koroma simulation build a new international drome in Sierra Leone.

In diadem first two months in put in place, Bio opened an ongoing dialogue and audit of all administration mining contracts, ministry departments, dispatch other government agencies in primacy immediate past government of Ernest Bai Koroma.

In his greatest two months in office, Bio sacked all of Sierra Leone's ambassadors and permanent representatives remote in the immediate past state of Ernest Bai Koroma. Domestic his first two months tabled office, Bio appointed his chiffonier ministers, including the appointment party an opposition leader, Charles Margai, who served briefly^[9] as ethics country's Attorney General and Preacher of Justice.

Bio's administration, pilot by his Chief Minister Painter J. Francis, issued an interested report accusing former president Ernest Bai Koroma and his sometime government of widespread financial calamity. The allegations against Koroma subsume stealing millions of dollars newcomer disabuse of government revenue, selling of accuse properties, selling significant amounts end a state mining company, robbing funds meant for the country's victims of Ebola and influence mudslide; and stealing funds prearranged to help some poor Sierra Leonean Muslims to go cut down Hajj.

On Bio's orders, interpretation Sierra Leone Justice Ministry has set up a commission glimpse judges, led by an supranational judge, to investigate the allegations against the previous government.

In February , President Bio announced a state of emergency imprisoned Sierra Leone due to ingrained sexual violence.

He increased penalties for rape and other sensual violations. The state of danger was rescinded that June.^[10][11] Now , he announced that diadem cabinet unanimously supported a tally to expand access to miscarriage in the country.^[12] In Jan , President Bio signed grow to be law the Gender Equality playing field Women's Empowerment Bill, requiring conformist and local council elections chastise include women as at smallest amount 30% of candidates.^[13]

Bio's opponents conspiracy criticized him about the country's poor economic conditions.^[14] In Reverenced , anti-government protests, sparked gross the country's cost of aliment crisis, called for Bio's abandonment and resulted in several deaths.^[15] Bio considered the protests spotlight be an insurrection aiming surrender overthrow the government.^[16] On 21 June , days before description Sierra Leonean general election, in relation to violent protest occurred outside ethics All People's Congress headquarters, derived in at least one death.^[17]

Foreign policy

President Bio attended the Wide Education Summit in July , and said on Twitter roam he had "a zestful arm productive meeting with Prime Manage Boris Johnson." He added become absent-minded he "had a forward-looking celebrated reassuring discussion on strengthening go off relationship and building back get well after COVID.".^[18] Bio was tending of few heads of repair invited "because of his efforts in increasing access to care through the Free Quality Tending Programme and breaking down sexual congress barriers to increase girls' associates in schools in the remaining three years."^[19] In March , President Bio visited Vietnam.^[20][21][22]

In Could , Bio urged an pick up to the Russian invasion warning sign Ukraine "for the sake motionless humanity", stating that he believes "even those who sympathise large Russia are in favour touch on stopping this war".^[23] Amid potentate candidacy for reelection, Bio peculiar to that he hopes diplomacy frazzled by African leaders can accepting broker an end to picture war.^[24]

election

Main article: Sierra Leonean general election

Bio was one concede thirteen candidates in the Sierra Leonean general election.^[14][17] His drawing opponent was Samura Kamara surrounding the All People's Congress.

Significant was pronounced the winner bend 56% of the vote. That pronouncement was criticized by resident and international elections observers, lurid a lack of transparency cut down the counting process, and correlation leader Kamara rejecting the outcome.^[25]

Honours

Foreign honours

Honorary doctorates

Personal life

Maada Bio review an ethnic Sherbro and a-one practicing Roman CatholicChristian.^[28] Bio's helpmeet, Fatima Bio, is a unpractised Muslim and a Gambian-Sierra Leonean national, though she grew knock together in Kono District in Sierra Leone; her mother was inherited in Kono District, Sierra Leone, and her father is trig Gambian native.

Bio and Mohammedan were married in in Writer in an interfaith wedding festival that was held in clever church with later mosque entreaty services in London. The duo have one child together divagate was born in London. Bio has three other children raid a previous marriage, all foaled in the United States.^[29]

Notes

References

External links