Amos Sawyer facts for kids

Amos Claudius Sawyer (born June 15, 1945 – died February 16, 2022) was an important politician and professor from Liberia. He was the temporary president of Liberia from November 22, 1990, to March 7, 1994. He was chosen by many leaders from different political groups.

Who Was Amos Sawyer?

Amos Claudius Sawyer was born in 1945. His family was well-known in Sinoe County, Liberia. His ancestors were free African-Americans who came to Africa long ago. They settled in a place called "Maryland in Africa," which later joined Liberia.

His Education

Sawyer went to local schools in Liberia. He graduated from Liberia College in 1966. This college is now known as the University of Liberia. After that, he went to the United States for more studies. He earned two advanced degrees in political science from Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois.

Becoming a Leader

After finishing his studies, Dr. Sawyer became a university professor. He also became an activist and politician. He decided to run for Mayor of Monrovia, the capital city. He ran as an independent candidate. This was unusual because one party, the True Whig Party, had been in charge for over 100 years.

In 1980, there was a military takeover in Liberia. After this, Sawyer went back to teaching. He became a professor of political science at the University of Liberia. In December 1980, he was made the head of the College of Social Sciences. He also became the acting director of the university.

Sawyer helped start a group called the Movement for Justice in Africa (MOJA). In 1983, he created his own political group, the Liberian People's Party.

Interim President

Liberia faced a difficult time during a civil war. In 1990, after President Samuel Doe was taken and later killed, two rebel leaders claimed to be president. To bring order, a meeting was held in the Gambia. Thirty-five Liberian leaders from different political parties and groups attended. They voted for Amos Sawyer to be the temporary, or "interim," president. Bishop Roland Diggs was chosen as his vice-president. Their job was to set up a new government.

In 1992, Sawyer wrote a book called The Emergence of Autocracy in Liberia: Tragedy and Challenge. In this book, he explained how powerful leaders in Liberia slowly gained too much control. He showed how power became centered around the president. This led to a military government.

Sawyer was supposed to be president for one year. However, because of the ongoing civil war, his time in office was extended to four years. He led the country while fighting continued against rebel groups. In 1994, as part of a peace plan, Sawyer had to step down. After him, Liberia was led by chairmen of a special Council of State, not a president. Fighting started again in 1996. It continued even when Charles Taylor became president from 1997 to 2003.

Later Work

After his time as president, Sawyer went back to the United States. He worked at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. He was a research scholar there.

Later, Sawyer became the chairman of the Governance Reform Commission in Liberia. This group helps improve how the country is run. He also wrote another book in 2005, Beyond Plunder: Toward Democratic Governance in Liberia. This book looked at how Liberia could become a country with many political parties and fair elections. He supported Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in the elections of 2005 and 2011.

Personal Life and Death

Amos Sawyer passed away on February 16, 2022. He was 76 years old. He died at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Legacy and Honors

• Sawyer received the Gusi Peace Prize in 2011.

See also

In Spanish: Amos Sawyer para niños