Ahmad Tejan Kabbah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ahmad Tejan Kabbah
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| 3rd President of Sierra Leone | |
| In office March 29, 1996 – May 25, 1997 |
|
| Vice President | Albert Joe Demby |
| Preceded by | Julius Maada Bio (Military Junta) |
| Succeeded by | Johnny Paul Koroma (Military Junta) |
| In office February 6, 1998 – September 17, 2007 |
|
| Vice President | Albert Joe Demby Solomon Berewa |
| Preceded by | Johnny Paul Koroma (Military Junta) |
| Succeeded by | Ernest Bai Koroma |
| Leader of the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) | |
| In office March 4, 1996 – February 1, 2005 |
|
| Preceded by | Salia Jusu-Sheriff |
| Succeeded by | Solomon Berewa |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 16, 1932 Pendembu, Kailahun District, British Sierra Leone |
| Died | March 13, 2014 (aged 82) Freetown, Sierra Leone |
| Political party | Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) |
| Spouses | Patricia Kabbah (1965 until her death in 1998) Isata Jabbie Kabbah (2008–2014) |
| Children | 5 children (all with Patricia Kabbah):
|
| Alma mater | Aberystwyth University (Aberystwyth, Wales)
|
| Profession | Economist, Attorney |
| Religion | Islam (Sunni) |
| Ethnicity | Mandingo |
Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah (February 16, 1932 – March 13, 2014) was an important politician from Sierra Leone. He served as the 3rd President of Sierra Leone two times. His first term was from 1996 to 1997, and his second was from 1998 to 2007.
Kabbah was trained as an economist and a lawyer. He worked for many years at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). He retired from the United Nations and returned to Sierra Leone in 1992.
In 1996, Kabbah became the leader of the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP). He then ran for president in the country's first free election that year. He won with 59% of the votes. International observers said the election was fair. Kabbah promised to end the civil war if he became president, and he worked hard to achieve this during his time in office.
Kabbah was a devoted Muslim. He was born in Pendembu, Kailahun District, in eastern Sierra Leone. He grew up in the capital city, Freetown. Kabbah belonged to the Mandingo ethnic group. He was the first and only Muslim head of state in Sierra Leone's history.
Kabbah's first marriage was in 1965 to Patricia Tucker. She was a Christian from the Sherbro ethnic group. They had five children together. Patricia Kabbah was very active during his presidency, focusing on helping people. She spoke out about the need to end the civil war. She passed away in 1998 before the war ended.
Years later, in 2008, Kabbah married Isata Jabbie Kabbah. She was also Mandingo and Muslim. They were married until he died in 2014.
Most of Kabbah's time as president was affected by the civil war. This war was against the Revolutionary United Front (RUF). He was briefly removed from power by a military group in 1997. However, he was returned to power in 1998 with help from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), led by Nigeria. Later, the United Nations and British also got involved to help bring peace.
As President, Kabbah talked directly with the RUF rebels to end the war. He signed several peace agreements with the rebel leader, Foday Sankoh. One important agreement was the 1999 Lomé Peace Accord. In this agreement, the rebels agreed to a temporary ceasefire for the first time. When the ceasefire broke down, Kabbah asked for international help from the British, the UN, the African Union, and ECOWAS. This help was crucial in defeating the rebels and bringing peace back to Sierra Leone.
Kabbah officially declared the civil war over in early 2002. Many people in Sierra Leone celebrated the end of the war. Kabbah easily won his final five-year term as president later that year. He defeated his main opponent, Ernest Bai Koroma, with 70.1% of the votes. This was the largest victory margin in a free election in the country's history. International observers confirmed the election was fair.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Growing Up in Sierra Leone
Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah was born on February 16, 1932. His birthplace was the rural town of Pendembu, in the Eastern Province of British Sierra Leone. Kabbah's father, Abu Bakr Sidique Kabbah, was a businessman and a religious Muslim. He was from the Mandingo ethnic group with roots in Guinea. Kabbah's mother, Haja Adama Coomber Kabbah, was also a religious Muslim. She was a member of the Mende ethnic group.
Kabbah himself was a devoted Muslim. His first name, Ahmad, means "highly praised" in Arabic language. He could speak several languages fluently. These included English, French, Susu, Mende, Krio, and his native Mandinka language. Even though he was born in Kailahun District, Kabbah grew up in the capital city, Freetown.
School and University
Kabbah attended St. Edward's Secondary School in Freetown. This was the oldest Catholic secondary school in the city. He later married Patricia Kabbah, who was Catholic.
He continued his education in the United Kingdom. He studied at the Cardiff College of Food Technology and Commerce and University College Aberystwyth in Wales. In 1959, he earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics. Later, he studied law and became a practicing lawyer in 1969.
Career Before Presidency
Working in Public Service
Kabbah spent almost his entire career working for the government. He worked in different areas and provinces of Sierra Leone. He served as a District Commissioner in various places. He also became a Permanent Secretary in several government ministries. These included Trade and Industry, Social Welfare, and Education.
Work at the United Nations
Kabbah worked as an international civil servant for nearly 20 years. He served as a deputy chief for the West Africa Division of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in New York City. In 1973, he was sent to lead UNDP operations in Lesotho. He also led UNDP work in Tanzania and Uganda. Before Zimbabwe became independent, he helped set up cooperation with the United Nations system there.
After working in Eastern and Southern Africa, Kabbah returned to New York. He became the head of UNDP's Eastern and Southern Africa Division. He helped coordinate UN assistance to liberation movements recognized by the Organization of African Unity (OAU). These included groups like the African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa. Kabbah retired from the UN in 1992.
Becoming President of Sierra Leone
First Term in Office
After a military coup in 1992, Kabbah was asked to lead a council. This council helped bring back constitutional rule and create a new constitution for Sierra Leone. He had planned to retire, but people encouraged him to get involved in politics.
In 1996, the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) chose Kabbah as their presidential candidate. This was the first multi-party election in 23 years. The SLPP won many votes in the southern and eastern parts of the country. On March 29, 1996, Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah became Sierra Leone's first freely elected president. He aimed to include people from all political parties in his government.
His main goal was to end the civil war. This war had already caused many deaths and forced thousands of people to leave their homes. In November 1996, he signed a peace agreement with the rebel leader, Foday Sankoh, in Côte d'Ivoire. However, the rebels broke the agreement and continued fighting.
Military Coup and Return to Power
In May 1997, a military coup forced President Kabbah to leave Sierra Leone. He went into exile in neighboring Guinea. The coup was led by the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council. In Guinea, Kabbah worked to get international support.
Just nine months after the coup, Kabbah's government was restored. Troops from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), led by Nigeria, helped remove the military group. Local defense forces also played a key role.
Ending the Civil War
To bring peace, President Kabbah signed the Lomé Peace Accord with the RUF rebel leader Foday Sankoh on July 7, 1999. Even though the RUF often broke the agreement, it was important for peace and justice in Sierra Leone. On January 18, 2002, Kabbah announced that the civil war was officially over. This happened after many ex-fighters had given up their weapons.
Kabbah received important military help from outside Sierra Leone. Nigeria played a crucial role. In February 1998, Nigeria sent troops to remove the military group and rebel alliance. The rebels continued to try and overthrow Kabbah's government. In May 2000, the RUF leader, Foday Sankoh, kidnapped UN troops. He then ordered his rebels to march towards Freetown.
However, the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, sent 800 British troops to Freetown. This stopped the rebels from attacking the city. President Kabbah was very thankful to the British Prime Minister. He called their help "timely" and something "Sierra Leonean people will never forget."
As president, Kabbah held direct talks with the RUF rebels to end the civil war. He signed several peace agreements with Foday Sankoh. The 1999 Lomé Peace Accord was a key one. In this agreement, the rebels agreed to a temporary ceasefire for the first time. When the ceasefire failed, Kabbah asked for international help. He sought assistance from the British, the United Nations Security Council, the African Union, and ECOWAS. This help was to defeat the rebels and bring peace back to Sierra Leone.
In October 1999, the United Nations agreed to send peacekeepers. Their job was to restore order and disarm the rebels. The first peacekeepers arrived in December. The UN Security Council later increased the force to 13,000 members. These forces included soldiers from the British special forces, India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. African Union forces from Nigeria, Guinea, Ghana, and other countries also helped. These international forces launched successful operations to push back the RUF rebels. They took back many areas that were under rebel control. Many senior rebel leaders were captured or fled, including Foday Sankoh.
The rebels finally agreed to give up their weapons. In return, the Sierra Leone government offered them amnesty. They also offered career opportunities and counseling. Child soldiers were placed in public schools, given counseling, and reunited with their families. In 2001, UN forces moved into rebel-held areas and began disarming the rebels.
The civil war was officially declared over by Kabbah in early 2002. Thousands of Sierra Leoneans celebrated the end of the war. Kabbah easily won his final five-year term as president later that year. He won with 70.1% of the vote. International observers said the election was fair. After the help from the Bangladesh UN Peacekeeping Force, Kabbah declared Bengali an honorary official language in December 2002.
After Presidency and Death
End of Term
Kabbah left office in September 2007. He had completed his second five-year term. The constitution did not allow him to run for re-election. His Vice-president, Solomon Berewa, ran to succeed him but lost to Ernest Bai Koroma.
After leaving office, Kabbah continued to be involved in international affairs. He led observer missions for elections in Kenya and Zimbabwe. He spoke out against fraud and violence in the 2008 Zimbabwean election.
Passing Away
Ahmad Tejan Kabbah passed away at his home in Juba Hill, Freetown, on March 13, 2014. He was 82 years old and had been ill for a short time. After his death was announced, Sierra Leone's President Ernest Bai Koroma declared a week of national mourning. Flags across the country were flown at half-mast.
A state funeral was held for Kabbah. Many important people attended, including former heads of state, international guests, and government officials. On March 21, 2014, Kabbah's coffin was brought to the Sierra Leone House of Parliament. Members of parliament paid their respects. On March 23, 2014, Kabbah's coffin was taken to the National Stadium. Thousands of Sierra Leoneans gathered to say goodbye. His body was then taken to the Mandingo Central Mosque in Freetown for an Islamic prayer service. He was buried at the Kissi Road Cemetery next to his mother.
Personal Life
Kabbah's first wife, Patricia, passed away in 1998. They had five children: Mariama, Abu, Michael, and Tejan Jr. He also had six grandchildren. In 2008, he married Isata Jabbie Kabbah.
Honors and Awards
President Kabbah received several honors. As chancellor of the University of Sierra Leone, he held an honorary doctor of laws degree. In 2001, Southern Connecticut State University in the United States gave him an honorary degree. This was to recognize his efforts to bring peace to his country. In 2006, he received another honorary degree from the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom. This was for his work in restoring peace and rebuilding the country after the civil war.
Kabbah was also a grand commander of the Order of the Republic of Sierra Leone.
See also
In Spanish: Ahmad Tejan Kabbah para niños
