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| 20. Sierra Leone |
| 1961, April 27 |
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| Sierra Leone gained independence from Britain. As leader of the Sierra Leone People's Party, Dr. Milton Margai spearheaded Sierra Leone's drive for independence. In 1951, Margai became the leader of government business in the colony's new Executive Council. Though conservative, he enjoyed the support of most of Sierra Leone's Creoles and other ethnic groups. His 1960 request that Sierra Leone be given independence was granted by Britain in 1961. | 1 |
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| 1967 |
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| Siaka Stevens and his All-People's Congress Party won the national elections. Military officers failed in their attempt to nullify the election results. | 2 |
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| 1971 |
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| Brig. Gen. John Bangura led an unsuccessful coup attempt and was executed. Stevens survived two assassination attempts that year. | 3 |
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| 1973 |
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| General elections sparked widespread unrest. Authorities reacted by jailing and executing opponents. | 4 |
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| 1977 |
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| The House of Representatives declared Sierra Leone to be a one-party state. | 5 |
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| 1982, May |
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| Violence marred the first one-party election. Rumors of Stevens's impending retirement spread. | 6 |
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| 1985, Nov |
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| Stevens stepped down from the presidency in favor of Maj. Gen. Joseph Saidu Momoh. The Momoh government secured aid from Western donors, but proved unable to establish domestic tranquility. | 7 |
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| 1995, Jan. 25 |
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| A rebel attack occurred in the town of Kambia. Approximately 30,000 refugees fled to Guinea. Several were left unprotected by the government and were killed in the attacks. | 8 |
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| 1996, Jan. 16 |
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| The leader of Sierra Leone's military government, Capt. Valentine E. M. Strasser, was overthrown by army officials and replaced by second-in-command Brig. Gen. Julius Maada Bio. On April 23 the junta and rebels agreed to a cease-fire. | 9 |
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| Feb. 26 |
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| Thirteen political parties competed in elections for president and national legislature. The elections were monitored by international observers, but violence in some areas led to the annullment of results. A second round of presidential elections was held on March 15, and Ahmed Tejan Kabbah was elected with a 59.5 percent majority. In September, Kabbah ordered the retirement of 20 leading military officers. Rumors of coup plots spread throughout the capital. Kabbah sought Nigerian assistance in reorganizing the armed forces. | 10 |
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