Left: RUF leader Foday Sankoh, pictured at a press conference in Freetown in 2000.
Masiaka from the RUF in May 2000
Right: Sierra Leonean Army soldiers, having retaken the town of
Sierra Leone at a glance 1961 Sierra Leone becomes independent
Siaka Stevens becomes president and creates a one-party state
1971 1991
Major-General Joseph Momoh takes over
Start of civil war. Foday Sankoh (RUF) begins campaign against Momoh
1992 Momoh is ousted in a coup led by Captain Strasser. Bio plays a major role. The National Provisional Ruling Council is formed with Strasser as its leader
1996 1996 1997 1998 2007 2010
Strasser is ousted in a military coup led by his defence minister, Brigadier Bio
Ahmad Tejan Kabbah is elected president, signing peace accord with Sankoh's rebels
The peace deal unravels. President Kabbah is deposed by Major Johnny Paul Koroma
Kabbah returns to Freetown, winning the 2002 presidential elections
Ernest Bai Koroma becomes president
UN Security Council lifts the last remaining sanctions against Sierra Leone
brother of Hirsch, at the “40 days” funeral ceremony of Hirsch at Segbwema. “Ben- jamin was naturally very bitter about the death of his brother, and about the terrible conditions we soldiers endured,” Bio said. “He intensely disliked the Momoh regime. So I thought he would be safely brought into the plan. I told him we planned to unseat the government, and of course he was enthusiastic.” Strasser and Bio did all the planning.
Bio said SAJ Musa, Tom Nyuma and Lt. Sandy were later brought in. “We had planned to move against Momoh on 30 April,” Bio said. “But overzealous Nyuma and SAJ Musa forced our hands [so we had] to act earlier, a day before. Tey com- mandeered a vehicle belonging to Major S.B. Kanu in Kenema on the 28th, and drove it all the way to Freetown. “You can see from this that the state
had collapsed. Two junior officers com- mandeering a vehicle belonging to a sen- ior officer, who they simply pushed out, and [they] drive that vehicle past Bo right down to Freetown! And there was nobody to stop them!” Bio and Strasser had already mobilised 40 hardened soldiers in Freetown, who
were ready to spring into action. Strasser was in Freetown, while Bio was still in Segbwema planning to move to Freetown the night of the 27th (Sierra Leone’s inde- pendence anniversary day). Nyuma and Musa crashed into Free-
town on the 29th, and Strasser quickly mobilised the 40 waiting men. Te sol- diers easily occupied State House, and the slothful Momoh fled to Guinea. Te NPRC was launched. Bio was 28 at the time, and Strasser 25. And what about Major Yayah Kanu? I
asked Bio. “He knew nothing about the coup plot,” Bio replied. “He was com- manding officer for Nyuma and Sandy. After Nyuma and the others occupied State House, he approached them. Per- haps he was sent by the APC to talk his boys out of it. But later, after Momoh fled, I think he wanted to commandeer the coup by using Nyuma to take power for him. “Nyuma is a decisive man, but he can
be easily swayed. And Yayah Kanu nearly got him to do his bidding. But Musa and Strasser quickly intervened. Tat was the start of Kanu’s troubles. SAJ had him im- mediately detained.”
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