President of Sierra Leone facts for kids

Quick facts for kids President of the Republic of Sierra Leone
Presidential standard
Incumbent Julius Maada Wonie Bio since 4 April 2018
Style	His/Her Excellency
Residence	State House (official workplace) State Lodge (official residence)
Term length	Five years, renewable once
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Sierra Leone (1991)
Precursor	Queen of Sierra Leone
Formation	19 April 1971; 54 years ago (1971-04-19)
First holder	Christopher Okoro Cole (acting)
Deputy	Vice President of Sierra Leone
Salary	12,220 USD annually
Website	http://www.statehouse.gov.sl/

The President of the Republic of Sierra Leone is a very important leader. This person is both the head of state and the head of government for Sierra Leone. They are also the top commander of the Armed Forces.

The president leads the executive branch of the government. This means they make sure laws passed by the Parliament are put into action. The president also chooses judges for Sierra Leone's courts. This includes judges for the high court, the court of appeals, and the Supreme Court. The president leads a group of special advisors called the Cabinet of ministers. These ministers must be approved by Parliament. The president is the most powerful person in the government of Sierra Leone. People formally address the president as "His Excellency".

Becoming President: What You Need

To become the President of Sierra Leone, a person must meet certain requirements:

• They must be at least 32 years old.
• They must be a citizen of Sierra Leone.
• They need to be an active member of a political party.
• They must also meet all other rules needed to serve in Parliament.

When the President's Job Becomes Empty

The President's job can become empty for a few reasons:

• If the president serves more than two five-year terms.
• If the president currently in office passes away or decides to retire.
• If the president acts improperly or cannot do their job due to health reasons.

During times of war, a president's term might be made longer. This can only happen in small steps of six months at a time. If a president wants to resign or retire, they must write a letter. This letter is given to the Chief Justice. Copies also go to the Speaker of Parliament and the Chief Electoral Commissioner.

If the president's job becomes empty, the Vice President takes over. The Vice President finishes the rest of the president's term. Before starting, the Vice President takes a special oath. This oath is explained in the Constitution of Sierra Leone.

The President of Sierra Leone automatically holds several key roles:

• Head of State
• Head of the Executive Branch
• Head of the Armed Forces
• Head of the Cabinet (with Parliament's approval)

How the President is Chosen

The president is elected every five years. They are chosen by a majority vote. There are specific steps for the election:

• The person must be chosen by their own political party.
• All voters and people chosen for roles must be registered in Sierra Leone.
• Voting happens secretly on a specific date and time set by Parliament.
• Only one person is nominated for president.
• If a nominee passes, party organizers have seven days to nominate a runner-up.
• The winning candidate must get at least 55% of the votes.
• If there's a tie, a second election round happens within fourteen days.

The election for president must take place before the current president's term ends. The new president's term starts three months after the old one expires. Since 2007, the Constitution of Sierra Leone has set a limit of two terms for the president.

Pay and Benefits for the President

The Sierra Leone Constitution explains the salary and benefits the president receives:

• The president gets a salary and allowances. Parliament decides how much this is.
• Their salary and allowances cannot be changed to be worse or better for them while they are in office.
• The president does not have to pay personal taxes.
• They cannot be arrested or charged with a crime while in office.
• They receive a pension and retirement benefits after leaving office.

President's Powers and Appointments

The president has important powers to appoint people to government roles:

• The president can appoint members of the court system. This includes the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. They do this with advice from the Judicial and Legal Service Commission.
• The president also appoints the Ministers of State who form the Cabinet. These ministers must be approved by Parliament.

So, while the president chooses these important people, Parliament must agree to their choices.

Where the President Lives and Works

The main workplace for the President of Sierra Leone is State House. It is located in Tower Hill, which is in the center of Freetown. Freetown is the capital city of Sierra Leone.

The president has two official homes. One is State Lodge, found in the fancy neighborhood of Hill Station in western Freetown. The other is Kabassa Lodge, also in a nice area called Juba Hill in western Freetown.

The current president, Julius Maada Wonie Bio, uses State Lodge as his official home. Former president Ahmad Tejan Kabbah also lived at State Lodge. Earlier presidents, Joseph Saidu Momoh and Siaka Stevens, used Kabassa Lodge as their official residence.

Keeping the President Safe

The President of Sierra Leone is very well protected. A special group called the Presidential Guard keeps them safe. This guard is made up of trained soldiers from the Sierra Leone Armed Forces. It also includes special police officers from the Operational Support Division of the Sierra Leone Police Force.

How the Presidency Started

Siaka Stevens was part of the All People's Congress (APC) party. In 1967, he won the general elections and became the Prime Minister. In 1971, Sierra Leone changed its government system. It stopped having a parliamentary system and started a presidential system instead. This change made Siaka Stevens the first executive President of Sierra Leone.

Over time, the APC became the only political party allowed in the country. In 1978, a new constitution was approved by the people. This constitution ended the multi-party system and created a single-party state. It also gave the president more power. The presidential term limit changed from four to seven years.

In October 1990, President Momoh created a group to review the constitution. This was because many people wanted to end the one-party system. The group suggested changes to the constitution, offering other ways to govern the country.

More About Sierra Leone's Leaders

• List of colonial governors of Sierra Leone
• List of heads of state of Sierra Leone
• List of heads of government of Sierra Leone

See also

In Spanish: Presidente de Sierra Leona para niños