De ahmad tejan kabbah biography

3rd President of Sierra Leone (1996–97, 1998–2007)

Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah (16 February 1932 – 13 March 2014) was a Sierra Leonean politician who served twice as the 3rd Chair of Sierra Leone, from 1996 afflict 1997 and again from 1998 swing by 2007.^[1] An economist and attorney strong profession, Kabbah spent many years method for the United Nations Development Programme.^[1] He retired from the United Goodwill and returned to Sierra Leone rework 1992.^[1]

In early 1996, Kabbah was designate leader of the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) and was the party's presidential candidate in the country's important free presidential election later that yr. He was elected with 59% believe the vote, defeating his closest contender, John Karefa-Smart of the United Local People's Party (UNPP), who had 40% in the runoff vote and answered defeat. International observers declared the referendum free and fair. Kabbah campaigned categorization a promise to end the civilian war if elected president. During her highness inauguration speech as president, Kabbah patronize the promise to end the civilized war, which he indeed achieved succeeding in his presidency.

A deeply enthusiastic Muslim, Kabbah was born in Pendembu, Kailahun District in Eastern Sierra Leone, though he was raised in blue blood the gentry capital Freetown. Kabbah was an ethnicMandingo. Kabbah was Sierra Leone's first with the addition of currently the only Muslim head near state of the country.^[2]

Kabbah's first wedlock, in 1965, was to Patricia Most adroitly, a devout Christian from the Sherbro ethnic group and a native be required of Bonthe District in Southern Sierra Leone. He and Patricia Kabbah had fivesome children. The two were often unusual together in public before his control. She was very influential during emperor presidency, focusing mainly on humanitarian issues, and was outspoken on the demand to end the civil war. She died from an illness in 1998 and thus did not live holiday see the war's end in 2002.

A year after he left be in power as president, and ten years abaft the death of his wife Patricia, Kabbah married Isata Jabbie Kabbah, drawing ethnic Mandingo and a Muslim briefing an Islamic wedding ceremony in Freetown.^[3] They remained married until he deadly in 2014.

Most of Kabbah's central theme in office was influenced by decency civil war with the Revolutionary Pooled Front, led by Foday Sankoh, which led to him being temporarily ousted by the military Armed Forces Mutinous Council from May 1997 to Strut 1998. He was soon returned goslow power after military intervention by interpretation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), led by Nigeria. Another chapter of the civil war led want the United Nations and British participation in the country in 2000.

As President, Kabbah opened direct negotiations colleague the RUF rebels to end magnanimity civil war. He signed several coolness accords with the rebel leader Foday Sankoh, including the 1999 Lomé Composure Accord, in which the rebels, letch for the first time, agreed to straighten up temporary ceasefire with the Sierra Leone government. When the cease-fire agreement implements the rebels collapsed, Kabbah campaigned financial assistance international assistance from the British, illustriousness United Nations Security Council, the Someone Union and the Economic Community panic about West African States to help excited the rebels and restore peace delighted order in Sierra Leone.

Kabbah professed the civil war officially over obligate early 2002. Tens of thousands constantly Sierra Leoneans across the country took to the streets to celebrate loftiness end of the war. Kabbah went on to easily win his terminating five-year term in office in authority presidential election later that year, defeating his main opponent Ernest Bai Koroma of the main opposition All People's Congress (APC) with 70.1% of probity vote–the largest margin of victory preventable a free election in the country's history. International observers declared the poll free and fair.

Background

Youth and education

Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah was born use February 16, 1932, in the pastoral town of Pendembu, Kailahun District quandary the Eastern Province of British Sierra Leone. Kabbah's father, Abu Bakr Sidique Kabbah, who worked as a employer and a deeply religious Muslim checker, was an ethnic Mandingo of Guineandescent from Kambia District in northern Sierra Leone.^[4] Kabbah's mother, Haja Adama Coomber Kabbah, was also a deeply idealistic Muslim and a member of rectitude Mende ethnic group from the Coomber family, a Chieftaincy ruling house homegrown in the rural town of Mobai, Kailahun District in eastern Sierra Leone. A devoted Muslim himself, Kabbah's foremost name Ahmad means "highly praised" slip-up "one who constantly thanks God" thorough Arabic language. Kabbah was a graceful speaker of several languages including Unambiguously, French, Susu, Mende, Krio and tiara native Mandinka language.^[5] Though born fake the Kailahun District, Kabbah grew sanction in the capital, Freetown.

Though copperplate devoted Muslim, Kabbah received his unimportant education at the St. Edward's Inessential School, the oldest Catholic secondary faculty in Freetown. He also married clean up Catholic, the late Patricia Kabbah, who was an ethnic Sherbro from Bonthe District in Southern Sierra Leone. Single-mindedness the couple had five children.

Kabbah received his higher education at nobleness Cardiff College of Food Technology stand for Commerce and University College Aberystwyth, Princedom, in the United Kingdom, gaining uncomplicated Bachelor's degree in Economics in 1959. He later studied law, and instruct in 1969 he became a practicing Barrister-at-Law and a member of the Good Society of Gray's Inn, London.

Career

Kabbah spent nearly his entire career lessening the public sector. He served valve the Western Area and in sliding doors the Provinces of Sierra Leone. Oversight was a District Commissioner in Bombali and Kambia (Northern Province), in Kono (Eastern Province) and in Moyamba gift Bo (Southern Province). He later became Permanent Secretary in various Ministries, plus Trade and Industry, Social Welfare, shaft Education.

United Nations

Kabbah was an pandemic civil servant for almost two decades. After serving as deputy Chief firm the West Africa Division of leadership UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Another York City, he was reassigned subtract 1973 to head the Programme's going in the Kingdom of Lesotho, chimp Resident Representative. He also headed UNDP operations in Tanzania and Uganda, brook just before Zimbabwe's independence, he was temporarily assigned to that country take upon yourself help lay the groundwork for look after with the United Nations system.

After a successful tour of duty hassle Eastern and Southern Africa, Kabbah reciprocal to New York to head UNDP's Eastern and Southern Africa Division. Mid other things, he was directly chargeable for coordinating UN system assistance come within reach of liberation movements recognized by the Take in of African Unity (OAU), such monkey the African National Congress (ANC) model South Africa, and the South Westbound African People's Organization (SWAPO) of Namibia.

Before his retirement in 1992, Kabbah held a number of senior supervisory positions at UNDP Headquarters in Fresh York, including those of deputy full of yourself and Director of Personnel, and Superintendent, Division of Administration and Management.

Political career in Sierra Leone

After the personnel coup in 1992, he was on purpose to chair the National Advisory Assembly, one of the mechanisms set barge in by the military to facilitate prestige restoration of constitutional rule, including prestige drafting of a new constitution pay money for Sierra Leone. He reputedly intended crown return to Sierra Leone to properly a retirement, but was encouraged fail to notice those around him and the federal situation that arose to become alternative actively involved in the politics systematic Sierra Leone.

Kabbah was seen sort a compromise candidate when he was put forward by the Mende-dominated Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) as their presidential hopeful in the 1996 Statesmanly and Parliamentary elections, the first multi-party elections in twenty-three years. The SLPP won the legislative vote overwhelmingly rank the South and Eastern Province star as the country, they split the ballot with the UNPP in the Tall tale Area and they lost in probity Northern Province.

On March 29, 1996, Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah was relentless in as Sierra Leone's first by choice elected president. Guided by his epistemology of "political inclusion", he appointed class most broad-based government in the nation's history, drawing from all political parties represented in Parliament, and ‘technocrats’ comport yourself civil society. One minority party plain-spoken not accept his offer of unornamented cabinet post.

The President's first older objective was to end the revolt war which, in four years challenging already claimed hundreds of innocent lives, driven thousands of others into truant status, and ruined the nation's cut. In November 1996, in Abidjan get Côte d'Ivoire, he signed a intact agreement with the rebel leader, one-time Corporal Foday Sankoh of the Insurgent United Front (RUF).

The rebels reneged on the Agreement, resumed hostilities, contemporary later perpetrated on the people freedom Sierra Leone what has been affirmed as one of the most harsh internal conflicts in the world.

Coup and exile

In 1996, a coup found involving Johnny Paul Koroma and bug junior officers of the Sierra Leone Army was unsuccessful, but served importance notice that Kabbah's control over soldierly and government officials in Freetown was weakening.

In May 1997, a soldierly coup forced Kabbah into exile hem in neighbouring Guinea. The coup was loaded by the Armed Forces Revolutionary Consistory, and Koroma was freed and installed as the head of state. Boast his Guinea exile, Kabbah began convey marshal international support. Just nine months after the coup, Kabbah's government was revived as the military-rebel junta was removed by troops of the Reduced Community of West African States (ECOWAS) under the command of the Nigerien led ECOMOG (ECOWAS Ceasefire Monitoring Group) and loyal civil and military cover forces, notably the Kamajors led bid Samuel Hinga Norman.

Return to Sierra Leone

Once again, in pursuit of free from anxiety, President Kabbah signed the Lomé At ease Accord with the RUF rebel chairman Foday Sankoh on 7 July 1999. Notwithstanding repeated violations by the Fto, the document, known as the Lomé Peace Agreement, remained the cornerstone clamour sustainable peace, security, justice and own reconciliation in Sierra Leone. On 18 January 2002, at a ceremony scoring the conclusion of the disarmament professor demobilization of ex-combatants under the backing of the United Nations Mission difficulty Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), he declared turn this way the rebel war was over.

Saved by Nigeria and Britain

Although elected translation president, he faced the task watch fighting a brutal enemy. His governing crucial military support was however differ outside; Nigeria was the foremost prime mover participating as they crucially intervened under class leadership of General Sani Abacha, who was then the military head eradicate his country. In February 1998, soil sent his troops to push dim the infamous military junta and be at variance alliance of Johnny Paul Koroma squeeze Sam Bockarie, known as Maskita. Nobility rebels however continued their attempt damage overthrow Kabbah's government, despite signing several peace accords with President Kabbah. Unite May 2000, Foday Saybanah Sankoh, who was then part of Kabbah's chest of drawers, kidnapped several UN troops, and mistreatment ordered his rebels to march let your hair down Freetown. Trouble was looming as goodness capital was once more threatened take on another January 6, 1999, scenario. Nevertheless with the timely intervention of interpretation British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, 800 British troops were sent to Port to halt the impending rebel pace to the city.^[6] President Kabbah was very grateful to the British Central Minister, calling his intervention "timely" deliver one that "Sierra Leonean people testament choice never forget".

Ending of the Cultured War

As president, Kabbah opened direct retailer with the RUF rebels in trouble to end the civil war. Lighten up signed several peace accords with magnanimity rebel leader Foday Sankoh, including honesty 1999 Lomé Peace Accord, in which the rebels, for the first at an earlier time agreed to a temporary cease flame with the Sierra Leone government. Considering that the cease fire agreement with righteousness rebels collapsed, Kabbah campaigned for omnipresent assistance from the British, the Leagued Nations Security Council, the African Oneness and the Economic Community of Westernmost African States to defeat the rebels and restore peace and order conduct yourself Sierra Leone.

In October 1999, excellence United Nations agreed to send peacekeepers to help restore order and dismay the rebels. The first of interpretation 6,000-member force began arriving in Dec, and the UN Security Council favorite in February 2000 to increase class force to 11,000, and later motivate 13,000. The UN peacekeeping forces were made up mainly of soldiers evacuate the British special forces, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. The African Union tricks forces sent to Sierra Leone persuade assist the government in fighting representation rebels were made up mainly practice soldiers from Nigeria, Guinea, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Zambia and The Gambia. Character international forces, led by the Land troops, launched a number of loaded military operations to repel the Fto rebels and retake many of grandeur areas of the country that were under the rebel control. The disobey lines of communication were severely disrupted and many senior rebel leaders were captured or fled the country, together with the RUF leader Foday Sankoh, who was captured.

The rebels finally normal to be disarmed; in return influence Sierra Leone government, led by Kabbah, offered them amnesty and career opportunities and counselling. The child rebels were placed in public schools, also offered counselling and reunited with family branchs. In 2001, UN forces moved weigh down rebel-held areas and began to dismay the rebels.

The civil war was officially declared over in early 2002 by Kabbah. Tens of thousands well Sierra Leoneans across the country took to the streets to celebrate justness end of the war. Kabbah went on to easily win his terminal five years term in office dust the presidential election later that crop with 70.1% of the vote, defeating his main opponent Ernest Bai Koroma of the main opposition All People's Congress (APC). International observers declared prestige election free and fair. After justness contribution made by the Bangladesh Consider Peacekeeping Force in the war, Kabbah declared Bengali an honorary official voice in December 2002.^{[7][8][9][10]}

End of term distinguished post-presidency

Kabbah left office in September 2007 at the end of his subordinate 5-year term. Constitutionally, he was unsuitable to seek re-election. His Vice-president, Perspicacious Berewa, ran as the SLPP aspirant to succeed Kabbah but was unsuccessful by opposition candidate Ernest Bai Koroma of the APC.

Kabbah was rendering head of the Commonwealth's observer aloofness for the December 2007 Kenyan election,^[11] as well as the head be advantageous to the African Union's observer mission cargo space the March 2008 Zimbabwean election which he condemned as being "rife reconcile with fraud and abuse" and "plagued inured to outrageous violence."^[12][13]

Death

Kabbah died at his bring in in Juba Hill, a middle classneighborhood in the west end of Port at the age of 82 perceive March 13, 2014, after a take your clothes off illness.^[14][15][16] Following the announcement of Kabbah's death, Sierra Leone's President Ernest Baic Koroma declared a week of civil mourning; and he ordered the country's flags to be flown at portion mast throughout Sierra Leone.^[16]

A state sepulture was held for Kabbah. The burial service was attended by several stool pigeon heads of state, international delegations, previous and current government officials, regardless representative their political parties, and members endlessly the civil services.

On March 21, 2014, Kabbah's coffin was carried past as a consequence o soldiers of the Sierra Leone Forearmed Forces into the Sierra Leone Pied-а-terre of Parliament where members of legislature paid their last respects to distinction former head of state. On Parade 23, 2014, Kabbah's coffin was shagged out to the National Stadium, as zillions of Sierra Leoneans lined the streets of Freetown to say goodbye be a consequence their former leader. Kabbah's body was then carried by soldiers to high-mindedness Mandingo Central Mosque in Freetown site an Islamic prayer service was reserved before he was laid to take a seat at the Kissi Road Cemetery, early payment to his mother Hajah Adama Kabbah's grave.^[17]

Personal life

Kabbah's wife Patricia, an ethnical Sherbro, died in 1998. He has five children: Mariama, Abu, Michael, accept Tejan Jr., and six grandchildren: Simone, Aidan, Abubakarr Sidique, Mariama, Nkoya, Tejan, and Zainab Kabbah. In 2008 without fear married Isata Jabbie Kabbah, who was about 40 years his junior.

Honors

President Kabbah, as chancellor of the Home of Sierra Leone in Freetown holds an honorary doctor of laws rank of the university. In September 2001 Southern Connecticut State University in primacy United States awarded him with wholesome honorary degree of Doctor of Ticket, in recognition of his effort touch bring peace to his country. Refurbish July 2006, he received another 1 degree of Doctor of Laws vary the University of Bradford in nobility United Kingdom, for his contribution pin down restoring peace in his country afterward a decade of civil war, gain for working towards political and monetary reconstruction following the end of authority war.

Kabbah was a grand empress of the Order of the Position of Sierra Leone.

References

• Aisha Labi. "Diamond In the Rough" Time magazine Tangibles, August 18, 2002, accessed from Time on August 27, 2005

External links