The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) is the professional head of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces. He is responsible for the administration and the operational control of the Sierra Leonean military. It is the highest rank military position in the country.
| Chief of the Defence Staff | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms of Sierra Leone | |
 | |
| Ministry of Defence | |
| Abbreviation | CDS |
| Reports to | Minister of Defence |
| Nominator | President of Sierra Leone |
| Appointer | Parliament of Sierra Leone |
| Formation | 1957 |
| First holder | R. D. Blakie |
| Website | Official website |
In 1985, General Joseph Saidu Momoh, the army commander, succeed President Siaka Stevens. It is not clear what exactly Momoh's title was but it seems likely that he was the senior Sierra Leonean military officer and held the predecessor to the CDS's post.
Brigadier General Tom Carew was Chief of Defence Staff from April 2000 to November 2004. He may have been promoted to Major General during his tenure.[1] Major General Alfred Nelson-Williams was the Chief of the Defence Staff of the Republic of the Armed Forces, between 2008-2010. Nelson-Williams succeeded the retiring Major General Edward Sam M'boma on 12 September 2008.[2] The current chief is Lieutenant General Sullay Ibrahim Sesay.[3]
List of chiefs
edit| No. | Picture | Chief of the Defence Staff | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brigadier R. D. Blakie | 1962 | 1964 | 1–2 years | [4] | |
| 2 | Brigadier David Lansana (1922–1975) | 1964 | 1967 | 2–3 years | [4] | |
| 3 | Brigadier Andrew Juxon-Smith (1931–1996) | 1967 | 1968 | 0–1 years | [4] | |
| 4 | Brigadier John Amadu Bangura (1930–1971) | 1968 | 1971 | 2–3 years | [4] | |
| 5 | Major General Joseph Saidu Momoh (1937–2003) | 1971 | 28 November 1985 | 13–14 years | [4] | |
| 6 | Major General M.S. Tarawallie | 1985 | 1992 | 6–7 years | [4] | |
| 7 | Major General Jusu Gottor | 1992 | 1994 | 1–2 years | [4] | |
| 8 | Brigadier Kellie Conteh | 1994 | 1995 | 0–1 years | [4] | |
| 9 | Brigadier Julius Maada Bio (born 1964) | 1995 | 1996 | 0–1 years | [4] | |
| 10 | Brigadier Joy Turay | 1996 | 1996 | 0 years | [4] | |
| 11 | Brigadier Hassan Conteh | 1996 | 1997 | 0–1 years | [4] | |
| 12 | Brigadier General Maxwell Mitikishi Khobe (1950–2000) | April 1998 | April 2000 | 2 years | [4] | |
| 13 | Major General Tom Carew | April 2000 | November 2004 | 4 years, 7 months | [1] | |
| 14 | Major General Edward Sam M'boma | 2005 | 12 September 2008 | 2–3 | [5][2] | |
| 15 | Major General Alfred Nelson-Williams | 12 September 2008 | August 2010 | 1 year, 10 months | [6] | |
| 16 | Major General Robert Yira Koroma (?–2020) | August 2010 | 3 July 2012 | 1 year, 11 months | [6] | |
| 17 | Lieutenant General Samuel Omar Williams (?–2016) | 24 July 2012 | April 2016 | 3 years, 8 months | [4] | |
| 18 | Lieutenant General John Edson Milton (born 1960) | 14 April 2016 | 29 November 2017 | 1 year, 229 days | [4] | |
| 19 | Lieutenant General Brima Sesay (born 1965) | 29 November 2017 | 29 June 2020 | 2 years, 213 days | [7] | |
| 20 | Lieutenant General Sullay Ibrahim Sesay | 29 June 2020 | Incumbent | 4 years, 133 days | [3] |
References
edit- ^ a b "Sierra Leone: Security Information". Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
- ^ a b New Vision, Freetown, 15 September 2008
- ^ a b State House Media and Communications Unit. "Sierra Leone's New Chief of Defence Staff, Joint-Force Commander Subscribe to Oath of Office at State House". statehouse.gov.sl. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Home Page". mod.gov.sl. Ministry of Defence. 2018. Archived from the original on 2 May 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ Kamara, Saidu (20 February 2007). "Ahead of 2007 Elections…Chief of Defense Staff Rejects Polling Boxes". standardtimespress.net. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011.
- ^ a b Thomas, Abdul R. (11 September 2010). "The Sacking of Sierra Leone's Military and Police Chiefs: Can Good Men become so bad so soon?". The Sierra Leone Telegraph. Archived from the original on 27 September 2010. Retrieved 4 August 2011.
- ^ Government of Sierra Leone (30 November 2017). "New Army Chief of Defence Staff and Police boss in Sierra Leone". Cocorioko. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
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