Julius Maada Bio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Julius Maada Bio
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Bio in 2023
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| 5th President of Sierra Leone | |
| Assumed office 4 April 2018 |
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| Vice President | Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh |
| Chief Minister | David J. Francis Jacob Jusu Saffa David Sengeh |
| Preceded by | Ernest Bai Koroma |
| Chairman of the National Provisional Ruling Council | |
| In office 16 January 1996 – 29 March 1996 |
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| Deputy | Komba Mondeh |
| Preceded by | Valentine Strasser |
| Succeeded by | Ahmad Tejan Kabbah |
| Deputy Chairman of the National Provisional Ruling Council | |
| In office June 1993 – March 1995 |
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| Chairman | Valentine Strasser |
| Preceded by | Solomon Musa |
| Succeeded by | Komba Mondeh |
| Chief of the Defence Staff | |
| In office March 1995 – January 1996 |
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| Head of State | Valentine Strasser |
| Preceded by | Kellie Conteh |
| Succeeded by | Joy Turay |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Julius Maada Wonie Bio
12 May 1964 Tihun, Bonthe District, Sierra Leone |
| Political party | Sierra Leone People's Party |
| Spouse |
Fatima Bio
(m. 2013) |
| Children | 5 |
| Residences | State Lodge, Freetown |
| Alma mater |
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| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Sierra Leone |
| Branch/service | Sierra Leone Army |
| Years of service | 1985–1996 |
| Rank | Brigadier |
| Commands | Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces |
| Battles/wars |
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Julius Maada Wonie Bio (born 12 May 1964) is a Sierra Leonean politician. He is the 5th and current president of Sierra Leone, serving since 4 April 2018. Before becoming president, he was a retired brigadier in the Sierra Leone Army.
From January to March 1996, he was the military head of state of Sierra Leone. He was only 32 years old at the time. His government was called the National Provisional Ruling Council (NPRC).
President Bio is the first democratically elected president of Sierra Leone born after the country gained independence in 1961. As president, he has made primary and secondary school education free in government schools. He also ended the death penalty in Sierra Leone.
After his time as military head of state, Bio helped Sierra Leone return to a democratically elected government. He handed power to Ahmad Tejan Kabbah after Kabbah won the 1996 presidential election. Bio then moved to the United States and did not return to Sierra Leone until 2005.
In the 2012 presidential election, Bio was the candidate for the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP). He lost to the then-President Ernest Bai Koroma.
In the 2018 presidential election, Bio ran again for the SLPP. He won against Samura Kamara of the All People's Congress (APC). International and local observers said the election was fair. He became president after Ernest Bai Koroma.
As president, Bio has changed many policies from the previous government. He has focused on fighting corruption and improving how the country's money is managed.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Julius Maada Wonie Bio was born on 12 May 1964. He was born in Tihun, a village in the Bonthe District of Sierra Leone. This was three years after Sierra Leone became independent.
Bio is one of 35 children of Paramount Chief Charlie Bio II. His father was a leader of the Sherbro people. Bio is named after his grandfather, who was also a chief. He is a practicing Roman Catholic.
He started school at the Roman Catholic Primary School in Tihun. Later, he moved to Pujehun to live with his older sister Agnes. He finished primary school at Holy Family Primary School in Pujehun.
After primary school, he attended the Bo Government Secondary School in Bo. This is a well-known boarding school. Bio spent seven years there and became a school prefect. He graduated in 1984 at age 20.
Military Career
After finishing secondary school, Bio joined the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces military academy in 1985. This academy is located near Freetown. He trained to become an officer.
In October 1987, Bio graduated as a Second Lieutenant in the Sierra Leone Army. His first assignment was in Lungi Garrison. He later worked in Kambia District to fight smuggling along the Guinean border.
In 1988, he received training in aviation security from United Nations forces. After this, he became a platoon commander at Benguema.
In 1990, Sierra Leone sent soldiers to Liberia to help keep peace in the Liberian civil war. Bio and other soldiers, including Valentine Strasser, were part of this group. Thousands of Liberians were seeking safety in Sierra Leone at that time.
In 1991, Bio and other soldiers were called back to Sierra Leone. They were sent to fight the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels. These rebels had attacked villages near the border with Liberia.
Military Government and Transition to Democracy
Joining the 1992 Military Government
On 29 April 1992, Bio was part of a group of young soldiers. This group included Captain Valentine Strasser and Lieutenant Solomon Musa. They took over the government of President Joseph Saidu Momoh.
These soldiers formed the National Provisional Ruling Council (NPRC). Valentine Strasser became their leader and the Head of State.
Bio first served as Secretary of State South in Bo. Later, he moved to Freetown to be Secretary of State for Information and Broadcasting. He was promoted to Captain. Bio was a key member of the NPRC government. When Strasser's deputy was removed, Bio became the Deputy Chairman of the NPRC.
Leading the 1996 Transition
On 16 January 1996, Bio led a change in leadership within the NPRC. This happened because of disagreements about whether to make peace with the RUF rebels before elections. There were also discussions about whether military leaders could run in the elections.
Captain Valentine Strasser, the NPRC leader, was removed from power. He was flown out of the country to Conakry, Guinea.
Bio then became the Head of State. He promised to return Sierra Leone to civilian rule quickly. He kept his promise and handed power to Ahmad Tejan Kabbah after the 1996 presidential election. This was an important step for democracy in Sierra Leone.
After His Military Service
After leaving the military in 1996, Bio moved to the United States. He studied at American University in Washington, DC. There, he earned a master's degree in International Affairs.
He also worked as the president of a consulting and investment firm.
Political Career and SLPP Leadership
Bio officially joined the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) in 2005. That same year, he tried to become the leader of the SLPP. He came in third place at the party's national meeting.
On 31 July 2011, Bio was chosen as the SLPP's presidential candidate for the 2012 election. He ran against President Ernest Bai Koroma of the APC. Bio lost the election but showed that the SLPP was a strong opposition party.
President of Sierra Leone (2018–Present)
2018 Election Victory
Julius Maada Bio was elected President of Sierra Leone in a special run-off election. This election took place on 31 March 2018. He won with 51.8 percent of the votes.
He became president after Ernest Bai Koroma, who had been president since 2007. Koroma had to step down because he reached the constitutional limit for terms.
Domestic Policies and Changes
In his first month, President Bio made primary and secondary school education free for students in public schools. This started in the fall of 2018. He also removed application fees for students at government-run public universities.
Bio cancelled a large loan agreement that the previous government had made with China. This loan was for building a new international airport.
His government started reviews and audits of all government contracts and agencies from the previous administration. He also appointed new cabinet ministers.
Bio's government has investigated claims of financial mismanagement from the previous government. They set up a commission of judges to look into these claims.
In January 2023, President Bio signed a law called the Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment Bill. This law requires that at least 30% of candidates in parliamentary and local council elections must be women.
Some people have criticized Bio's government because of the country's economic situation. In August 2022, there were protests about the cost of living. President Bio said these protests aimed to overthrow the government.
International Relations
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President Bio attended the Global Education Summit in July 2021. He met with Prime Minister Boris Johnson to discuss strengthening their relationship. He was invited because of his work to increase access to education. This included his Free Quality Education Programme and efforts to help more girls enroll in schools.
In March 2022, President Bio visited Vietnam. In May 2023, he called for an end to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He hoped that African leaders could help find a peaceful solution to the war.
2023 Election and Outcome
Bio was one of thirteen candidates in the 2023 Sierra Leonean general election. His main opponent was Samura Kamara. Bio was declared the winner with 56% of the votes.
Some local and international election observers raised concerns about the counting process. They said there was a lack of transparency. The opposition leader also rejected the results.
Honours and Awards
International Awards
Liberia:
Grand Cordon of the Order of the Pioneers of Liberia (26 July 2019)
Honorary Degrees
China University of Geosciences (Wuhan) (2 March 2024)
Personal Life
Julius Maada Bio is from the Sherbro ethnic group. He is a practicing Roman Catholic Christian. His wife, Fatima Bio, is a practicing Muslim. She is from both The Gambia and Sierra Leone.
Bio and Fatima were married in 2013 in London. Their wedding was an interfaith ceremony, held in a church with later mosque prayer services. They have one child together. Bio also has three other children from a previous marriage.
See also
In Spanish: Julius Maada Bio para niños
