“He Became The Youngest President In Africa At The Age Of 25”
In 1992, Valentine Strasser made history by becoming one of the youngest people to lead a country in modern history. At just 25, he took power in Sierra Leone following a military coup that overthrew President Joseph Saidu Momoh.
On April 29, 1992, Strasser led a group of young military officers who marched from the war front to the capital, Freetown, to protest delayed salaries, poor working conditions and a lack of military equipment. Their protest turned into a coup, forcing Momoh into exile in Guinea. Strasser became the leader of the newly formed National Provisional Ruling Council (NPRC).
Initially, the young military government attracted public support by promising to address corruption and restore stability. However, the civil war against the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) continued. In 1995, Strasser’s government hired Executive Outcomes, a South African private military company, to help fight the rebels.
By 1996, disagreements had emerged within the military leadership over the peace process and plans to return the country to civilian rule. Strasser’s colleagues also accused him of trying to change the law so he could contest the upcoming presidential election, despite the constitutional minimum age of 40. He denied intending to seek another term.
On January 16, 1996, his deputy, Julius Maada Bio, led a palace coup that removed Strasser from power. He was flown to neighbouring Guinea.
After his overthrow, Strasser moved to the United Kingdom, where he studied law at the University of Warwick on a United Nations fellowship. He later left his studies and failed to secure asylum in Britain. The Gambia also denied him entry, and he eventually returned to Sierra Leone.
In January 2019, Strasser became seriously ill with peripheral artery disease. President Bio authorised his medical evacuation to Ghana for treatment. After his recovery, Strasser received a home from the government in 2021.
– Victor Adundo