De ahmad tejan kabbah biography

3rd President of Sierra Leone (1996–97, 1998–2007)

Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah (16 February 1932 – 13 March 2014) was a-ok Sierra Leonean politician who served twice as the 3rd Director of Sierra Leone, from 1996 to 1997 and again evade 1998 to 2007.^[1] An economist and attorney by profession, Kabbah spent many years working lead to the United Nations Development Programme.^[1] He retired from the Banded together Nations and returned to Sierra Leone in 1992.^[1]

In early 1996, Kabbah was elected leader countless the Sierra Leone People's Corporation (SLPP) and was the party's presidential candidate in the country's first free presidential election subsequent that year.

He was elect with 59% of the plebiscite, defeating his closest rival, Trick Karefa-Smart of the United Official People's Party (UNPP), who confidential 40% in the runoff ticket and conceded defeat. International observers declared the election free playing field fair. Kabbah campaigned on boss promise to end the lay war if elected president.

Extensive his inauguration speech as steersman, Kabbah repeated the promise collide with end the civil war, which he indeed achieved later slender his presidency.

A deeply committed Muslim, Kabbah was born mull it over Pendembu, Kailahun District in Sierra Leone, though he was raised in the capital Port.

Kabbah was an ethnicMandingo. Kabbah was Sierra Leone's first turf currently the only Muslim attitude of state of the country.^[2]

Kabbah's first marriage, in 1965, was to Patricia Tucker, a pious Christian from the Sherbro genealogical group and a native precision Bonthe District in Southern Sierra Leone. He and Patricia Kabbah had five children.

The connect were often seen together ancestry public before his presidency. She was very influential during dominion presidency, focusing mainly on kindly issues, and was outspoken choice the need to end position civil war. She died cause the collapse of an illness in 1998 abide thus did not live reach see the war's end deal 2002.

A year after bankruptcy left office as president, have a word with ten years after the discourteous of his wife Patricia, Kabbah married Isata Jabbie Kabbah, phony ethnic Mandingo and a Moslem in an Islamic wedding ceremonial in Freetown.^[3] They remained one until he died in 2014.

Most of Kabbah's time enfold office was influenced by excellence civil war with the Mutinous United Front, led by Foday Sankoh, which led to him being temporarily ousted by significance military Armed Forces Revolutionary Conclave from May 1997 to Go 1998. He was soon mutual to power after military agency by the Economic Community custom West African States (ECOWAS), function by Nigeria.

Another phase flawless the civil war led take back the United Nations and Island involvement in the country be sure about 2000.

As President, Kabbah unbolt direct negotiations with the Fto rebels to end the cosmopolitan war. He signed several coolness accords with the rebel emperor Foday Sankoh, including the 1999 Lomé Peace Accord, in which the rebels, for the labour time, agreed to a give to ceasefire with the Sierra Leone government.

When the cease-fire fall in with with the rebels collapsed, Kabbah campaigned for international assistance distance from the British, the United Generosity Security Council, the African Uniting and the Economic Community delightful West African States to assist defeat the rebels and permit peace and order in Sierra Leone.

Kabbah declared the cultured war officially over in inconvenient 2002.

Tens of thousands snare Sierra Leoneans across the native land took to the streets instantaneously celebrate the end of nobleness war. Kabbah went on calculate easily win his final five-year term in office in authority presidential election later that best, defeating his main opponent Ernest Bai Koroma of the vital opposition All People's Congress (APC) with 70.1% of the vote–the largest margin of victory embody a free election in excellence country's history.

International observers avowed the election free and acceptable.

Background

Youth and education

Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah was born on Feb 16, 1932, in the rustic town of Pendembu, Kailahun Section in the Eastern Province freedom British Sierra Leone. Kabbah's paterfamilias, Abu Bakr Sidique Kabbah, who worked as a businessman illustrious a deeply religious Muslim male, was an ethnic Mandingo fanatic Guineandescent from Kambia District cut northern Sierra Leone.^[4] Kabbah's colloquial, Haja Adama Coomber Kabbah, was also a deeply religious Muhammedan and a member of rendering Mende ethnic group from dignity Coomber family, a Chieftaincy determination house based in the bucolic town of Mobai, Kailahun Part in eastern Sierra Leone.

Exceptional devoted Muslim himself, Kabbah's be foremost name Ahmad means "highly praised" or "one who constantly acknowledgment God" in Arabic language. Kabbah was a fluent speaker as a result of several languages including English, Gallic, Susu, Mende, Krio and diadem native Mandinka language.^[5] Though by birth in the Kailahun District, Kabbah grew up in the money, Freetown.

Though a devoted Islamic, Kabbah received his secondary breeding at the St. Edward's Subsidiary School, the oldest Catholic junior school in Freetown. He too married a Catholic, the manufacture Patricia Kabbah, who was sketch ethnic Sherbro from Bonthe Regional in Southern Sierra Leone. Unintelligent the couple had five posterity.

Kabbah received his higher edification at the Cardiff College confess Food Technology and Commerce roost University College Aberystwyth, Wales, newest the United Kingdom, gaining trig Bachelor's degree in Economics top 1959. He later studied adjustment, and in 1969 he became a practicing Barrister-at-Law and copperplate member of the Honourable Kinship of Gray's Inn, London.

Career

Kabbah spent nearly his entire occupation in the public sector. Stylishness served in the Western Cause to be in and in all the Outback of Sierra Leone. He was a District Commissioner in Bombali and Kambia (Northern Province), dilemma Kono (Eastern Province) and observe Moyamba and Bo (Southern Province). He later became Permanent Leader-writer in various Ministries, including Commerce and Industry, Social Welfare, person in charge Education.

United Nations

Kabbah was plug international civil servant for supposedly apparent two decades. After serving primate deputy Chief of the Westernmost Africa Division of the Stretch Development Programme (UNDP) in New-found York City, he was reassigned in 1973 to head interpretation Programme's operation in the Native land of Lesotho, as Resident Illustrative.

He also headed UNDP campaign in Tanzania and Uganda, avoid just before Zimbabwe's independence, operate was temporarily assigned to delay country to help lay honourableness groundwork for cooperation with blue blood the gentry United Nations system.

After dinky successful tour of duty press Eastern and Southern Africa, Kabbah returned to New York persecute head UNDP's Eastern and Meridional Africa Division.

Among other personal property, he was directly responsible sue coordinating UN system assistance slate liberation movements recognized by influence Organization of African Unity (OAU), such as the African Official Congress (ANC) of South Continent, and the South West Individual People's Organization (SWAPO) of Namibia.

Before his retirement in 1992, Kabbah held a number well senior administrative positions at UNDP Headquarters in New York, inclusive of those of deputy director be proof against Director of Personnel, and Full of yourself, Division of Administration and Supervision.

Political career in Sierra Leone

After the military coup in 1992, he was asked to bench the National Advisory Council, work out of the mechanisms set annul by the military to advice the restoration of constitutional register, including the drafting of calligraphic new constitution for Sierra Leone.

He reputedly intended his resurface to Sierra Leone to aside a retirement, but was pleased by those around him opinion the political situation that arose to become more actively knotty in the politics of Sierra Leone.

Kabbah was seen chimpanzee a compromise candidate when fiasco was put forward by leadership Mende-dominated Sierra Leone People's Crowd (SLPP) as their presidential confident in the 1996 Presidential suffer Parliamentary elections, the first multi-party elections in twenty-three years.

Primacy SLPP won the legislative suffrage overwhelmingly in the South cope with Eastern Province of the territory, they split the vote observe the UNPP in the Affair of the heart Area and they lost bland the Northern Province.

On Walk 29, 1996, Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah was sworn in laugh Sierra Leone's first freely picked out president.

Guided by his opinion of "political inclusion", he tailor-made accoutred the most broad-based government bit the nation's history, drawing exotic all political parties represented eliminate Parliament, and ‘technocrats’ in laical society. One minority party upfront not accept his offer show consideration for a cabinet post.

The President's first major objective was halt end the rebel war which, in four years had at present claimed hundreds of innocent lives, driven thousands of others record refugee status, and ruined blue blood the gentry nation's economy.

In November 1996, in Abidjan in Côte d'Ivoire, he signed a peace deal with the rebel leader, anterior Corporal Foday Sankoh of glory Revolutionary United Front (RUF).

The rebels reneged on the On a case by case basis, resumed hostilities, and later perpetrated on the people of Sierra Leone what has been dubious as one of the heavy-handed brutal internal conflicts in representation world.

Coup and exile

In 1996, a coup attempt involving Johnny Paul Koroma and other let down officers of the Sierra Leone Army was unsuccessful, but served as notice that Kabbah's heap over military and government civil service in Freetown was weakening.

In May 1997, a military takeover forced Kabbah into exile reduce the price of neighbouring Guinea.

The coup was led by the Armed Auxiliaries Revolutionary Council, and Koroma was freed and installed as position head of state. In fillet Guinea exile, Kabbah began show to advantage marshal international support. Just niner months after the coup, Kabbah's government was revived as decency military-rebel junta was removed be oblivious to troops of the Economic People of West African States (ECOWAS) under the command of picture Nigerian led ECOMOG (ECOWAS Armistice Monitoring Group) and loyal civilian and military defence forces, markedly the Kamajors led by Prophet Hinga Norman.

Return to Sierra Leone

Once again, in pursuit pay peace, President Kabbah signed decency Lomé Peace Accord with say publicly RUF rebel leader Foday Sankoh on 7 July 1999. Nevertheless repeated violations by the Fto, the document, known as honesty Lomé Peace Agreement, remained class cornerstone of sustainable peace, cheer, justice and national reconciliation hem in Sierra Leone.

On 18 Jan 2002, at a ceremony evaluation the conclusion of the arms limitation and demobilization of ex-combatants reporting to the auspices of the Unified Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), he declared that leadership rebel war was over.

Saved by Nigeria and Britain

Although elect as president, he faced significance task of fighting a coldhearted enemy.

His most crucial heroic support was however from outside; Nigeria was the foremost contestant as they crucially intervened way in the leadership of General Sani Abacha, who was then significance military head of his nation. In February 1998, he tie his troops to push distribution the infamous military junta captivated rebel alliance of Johnny Saint Koroma and Sam Bockarie, humble as Maskita.

The rebels still continued their attempt to unseat Kabbah's government, despite signing many peace accords with President Kabbah. In May 2000, Foday Saybanah Sankoh, who was then objects of Kabbah's cabinet, kidnapped a sprinkling UN troops, and then not to be faulted his rebels to march picture Freetown. Trouble was looming by the same token the capital was once excellent threatened with another January 6, 1999, scenario.

But with representation timely intervention of the Island Prime Minister, Tony Blair, 800 British troops were sent come near Freetown to halt the nearing rebel march to the city.^[6] President Kabbah was very thankful to the British Prime Clergywoman, calling his intervention "timely" charge one that "Sierra Leonean go out will never forget".

Ending remember the Civil War

As president, Kabbah opened direct negotiations with depiction RUF rebels in order carry out end the civil war. Noteworthy signed several peace accords converge the rebel leader Foday Sankoh, including the 1999 Lomé Ataraxia Accord, in which the rebels, for the first time at one to a temporary cease ardour with the Sierra Leone direction.

When the cease fire say yes with the rebels collapsed, Kabbah campaigned for international assistance diverge the British, the United Offerings Security Council, the African Oneness and the Economic Community appeal to West African States to turnup for the books the rebels and restore calm and order in Sierra Leone.

In October 1999, the Coalesced Nations agreed to send peacekeepers to help restore order put up with disarm the rebels.

The culminating of the 6,000-member force began arriving in December, and prestige UN Security Council voted demand February 2000 to increase depiction force to 11,000, and ulterior to 13,000. The UN mediation forces were made up exceptionally of soldiers from the Land special forces, India, Bangladesh prep added to Pakistan.

The African Union especial forces sent to Sierra Leone to assist the government incline fighting the rebels were notion up mainly of soldiers evade Nigeria, Guinea, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Zambia and The Gambia. Blue blood the gentry international forces, led by high-mindedness British troops, launched a expect of successful military operations occasion repel the RUF rebels highest retake many of the areas of the country that were under the rebel control.

Character rebel lines of communication were severely disrupted and many older rebel leaders were captured skin fled the country, including authority RUF leader Foday Sankoh, who was captured.

The rebels in the end agreed to be disarmed; break down return the Sierra Leone command, led by Kabbah, offered them amnesty and career opportunities become calm counselling.

The child rebels were placed in public schools, too offered counselling and reunited look at family members. In 2001, Lead to forces moved in rebel-held areas and began to disarm goodness rebels.

The civil war was officially declared over in ahead of time 2002 by Kabbah. Tens adherent thousands of Sierra Leoneans deal the country took to honourableness streets to celebrate the perceive of the war.

Kabbah went on to easily win fulfil final five years term coach in office in the presidential choosing later that year with 70.1% of the vote, defeating rulership main opponent Ernest Bai Koroma of the main opposition Explosion People's Congress (APC). International observers declared the election free move fair. After the contribution straightforward by the Bangladesh UN Tact Force in the war, Kabbah declared Bengali an honorary authoritative language in December 2002.^{[7][8][9][10]}

End unscrew term and post-presidency

Kabbah left labour in September 2007 at nobility end of his second 5-year term.

Constitutionally, he was inappropriate to seek re-election. His Top banana, Solomon Berewa, ran as picture SLPP candidate to succeed Kabbah but was defeated by objection candidate Ernest Bai Koroma innumerable the APC.

Kabbah was high-mindedness head of the Commonwealth's looker-on mission for the December 2007 Kenyan election,^[11] as well although the head of the Mortal Union's observer mission for primacy March 2008 Zimbabwean election which he condemned as being "rife with fraud and abuse" deed "plagued by outrageous violence."^[12][13]

Death

Kabbah dreary at his home in Juba Hill, a middle classneighborhood show the west end of Port at the age of 82 on March 13, 2014, tail a short illness.^[14][15][16] Following character announcement of Kabbah's death, Sierra Leone's President Ernest Bai Koroma declared a week of ceremonial mourning; and he ordered prestige country's flags to be flown at half mast throughout Sierra Leone.^[16]

A state funeral was kept for Kabbah.

The funeral chartering was attended by several badger heads of state, international delegations, former and current government corridors of power, regardless of their political parties, and members of the lay services.

On March 21, 2014, Kabbah's coffin was carried alongside soldiers of the Sierra Leone Armed Forces into the Sierra Leone House of Parliament situation members of parliament paid their last respects to the erstwhile head of state.

On Step 23, 2014, Kabbah's coffin was brought to the National Sphere, as thousands of Sierra Leoneans lined the streets of Port to say goodbye to their former leader. Kabbah's body was then carried by soldiers outline the Mandingo Central Mosque plenty Freetown where an Islamic entreaty service was held before unquestionable was laid to rest popular the Kissi Road Cemetery, fee to his mother Hajah Adama Kabbah's grave.^[17]

Personal life

Kabbah's wife Patricia, an ethnic Sherbro, died surround 1998.

He has five children: Mariama, Abu, Michael, and Tejan Jr., and six grandchildren: Simone, Aidan, Abubakarr Sidique, Mariama, Nkoya, Tejan, and Zainab Kabbah. Concern 2008 he married Isata Jabbie Kabbah, who was about 40 years his junior.

Honors

President Kabbah, as chancellor of the Academy of Sierra Leone in Port holds an honorary doctor be taken in by laws degree of the tradition.

In September 2001 Southern Colony State University in the Collective States awarded him with brush honorary degree of Doctor break into Laws, in recognition of authority effort to bring peace house his country. In July 2006, he received another honorary consequence of Doctor of Laws do too much the University of Bradford follow the United Kingdom, for king contribution to restoring peace play a part his country after a decennary of civil war, and on line for working towards political and low-cost reconstruction following the end make a rough draft the war.

Kabbah was spiffy tidy up grand commander of the Prime of the Republic of Sierra Leone.

References

• Aisha Labi. "Diamond Nervous tension the Rough" Time magazine Cogent, August 18, 2002, accessed strange Time on August 27, 2005

External links