Vice-President of Sierra Leone

Vice-President of Sierra Leone
Post	Vice-President
Body	Sierra Leone
Insigniacaption	Coat of arms of Sierra Leone
Incumbent	Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh
Incumbentsince	4 April 2018
Department	Executive branch of the Government of Sierra Leone
Style	The Honourable
Member of	Cabinet of Sierra Leone
Reports to	President of Sierra Leone
Residence	State Lodge
Seat	Freetown
Appointer	President of Sierra Leone
Termlength	5 years, renewable once
Constituting instrument	1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone
Formation	19 April 1971
First	Sorie Ibrahim Koroma
Salary	Le 37,000,000 monthly

Contents

Role and responsibilities
Appointment and succession
List of vice-presidents
Office and residence
Historical development
See also

Vice-President of Sierra Leone. The Vice-President of Sierra Leone is the second-highest executive official in the Government of Sierra Leone and a senior member of the Cabinet of Sierra Leone. The office was formally established by the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone, succeeding earlier positions like Prime Minister. The Vice-President's primary duty is to support the President of Sierra Leone and assume the presidency in case of a vacancy, as seen during the Sierra Leone Civil War and subsequent political transitions.

Role and responsibilities

The Vice-President's constitutional duties are primarily to assist the President of Sierra Leone in the governance of the country and to perform any functions assigned by the president. The Vice-President is a key figure in the Cabinet of Sierra Leone and often oversees significant government portfolios or initiatives, such as the National COVID-19 Emergency Response Centre. Historically, vice-presidents have chaired important committees, including the Constitutional Review Committee and the National Minerals Agency oversight board. The officeholder also represents the nation internationally, attending events like the United Nations General Assembly and summits of the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States.

Appointment and succession

The Vice-President is elected on the same ticket as the President of Sierra Leone in a national election governed by the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone. Candidates must meet the same eligibility requirements as the presidential candidate, including being a citizen of Sierra Leone and at least forty years of age. Succession is clearly outlined in Chapter V of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone; should the presidency become vacant due to death, resignation, or removal, the Vice-President immediately assumes the office for the remainder of the term. This provision was invoked following the coup that ousted Ahmad Tejan Kabbah in 1997, though it was interrupted by the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council.

List of vice-presidents

The first person to hold the title was Sorie Ibrahim Koroma, appointed by President Siaka Stevens in 1971 under a republican constitution. Notable holders include Albert Joe Demby, who served under President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah during the end of the Sierra Leone Civil War and the subsequent peace process overseen by the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone. Samuel Sam-Sumana served under President Ernest Bai Koroma but was controversially dismissed in 2015, a decision later upheld by the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone. The current Vice-President, Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, was elected alongside President Julius Maada Bio of the Sierra Leone People's Party and took office in 2018.

Office and residence

The administrative office of the Vice-President is located within the State House complex in Freetown. The official residence is the State Lodge, also situated in the capital. The Vice-President's office complex houses staff and advisors who manage daily operations and policy coordination with various ministries, such as the Ministry of Finance (Sierra Leone) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Sierra Leone). Security for the office and residence is provided by the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces and the Sierra Leone Police.

Historical development

The position has its roots in the office of the Prime Minister of Sierra Leone, which existed at independence in 1961 under Milton Margai. After Sierra Leone became a republic in 1971 under Siaka Stevens, the prime ministerial role was abolished and the vice-presidency was created. The office was suspended during the period of the National Provisional Ruling Council military junta led by Valentine Strasser. Its powers and succession role were firmly codified with the restoration of multi-party democracy and the adoption of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone, a process influenced by the Brooke's Law constitutional talks. The tenure of Solomon Berewa under President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah was particularly significant for overseeing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Special Court for Sierra Leone.