Chief of the Defence Staff (Sierra Leone)

Chief of the Defence Staff
Coat of arms of Sierra Leone
Incumbent Lieutenant General Sullay Ibrahim Sesay since 29 June 2020
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

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.

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

No.	Picture	Chief of the Defence Staff	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Ref.
1		Blakie Brigadier R. D. Blakie	1962	1964	1–2 years	[4]
2		Lansana, DavidBrigadier David Lansana (1922–1975)	1964	1967	2–3 years	[4]
3		Juxon-Smith, AndrewBrigadier Andrew Juxon-Smith (1931–1996)	1967	1968	0–1 years	[4]
4		Bangura, John AmaduBrigadier John Amadu Bangura (1930–1971)	1968	1971	2–3 years	[4]
5		Momoh, Joseph Saidu Major General Joseph Saidu Momoh (1937–2003)	1971	28 November 1985	13–14 years	[4]
6		Tarawallie, M.S.Major General M.S. Tarawallie	1985	1992	6–7 years	[4]
7		Gottor, JusuMajor General Jusu Gottor	1992	1994	1–2 years	[4]
8		Conteh, KellieBrigadier Kellie Conteh	1994	1995	0–1 years	[4]
9		Bio, Julius MaadaBrigadier Julius Maada Bio (born 1964)	1995	1996	0–1 years	[4]
10		Turay, JoyBrigadier Joy Turay	1996	1996	0 years	[4]
11		Conteh, HassanBrigadier Hassan Conteh	1996	1997	0–1 years	[4]
12		Khobe, Maxwell Brigadier General Maxwell Mitikishi Khobe (1950–2000)	April 1998	April 2000	2 years	[4]
13		Carew, TomMajor General Tom Carew	April 2000	November 2004	4 years, 7 months	[1]
14		M'boma, EdwardMajor General Edward Sam M'boma	2005	12 September 2008	2–3	[5] [2]
15		Nelson-Williams, AlfredMajor General Alfred Nelson-Williams	12 September 2008	August 2010	1 year, 10 months	[6]
16		Koroma, RobertMajor General Robert Yira Koroma (?–2020)	August 2010	3 July 2012	1 year, 11 months	[6]
17		Williams, Samuel Lieutenant General Samuel Omar Williams (?–2016)	24 July 2012	April 2016	3 years, 8 months	[4]
18		Milton, JohnLieutenant General John Edson Milton (born 1960)	14 April 2016	29 November 2017	1 year, 229 days	[4]
19		Sesay, BrimaLieutenant General Brima Sesay (born 1965)	29 November 2017	29 June 2020	2 years, 213 days	[7]
20		Sesay, SullayLieutenant General Sullay Ibrahim Sesay	29 June 2020	Incumbent	4 years, 346 days	[3]

References

1. "Sierra Leone: Security Information". Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
2. New Vision, Freetown, 15 September 2008
3. 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.
4. "Home Page". mod.gov.sl. Ministry of Defence. 2018. Archived from the original on 2 May 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Government of Sierra Leone (30 November 2017). "New Army Chief of Defence Staff and Police boss in Sierra Leone". Cocorioko. Retrieved 1 May 2018.