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Ahmad Tejan Kabbah obituary Ahmad Tejan Kabbah obituary
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As African political itineraries go, that of Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, former president of Sierra Leone, who has died aged 82, was an unusual one. After a career as an international civil servant, he returned in the early 1990s to Sierra Leone, a country shaken by a cruel civil war and erratic military rule, and became president in multi-party elections in 1996, only to be deposed in a coup the next year. As African political itineraries go, that of Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, former president of Sierra Leone, who has died aged 82, was an unusual one. After a career as an international civil servant, he returned in the early 1990s to Sierra Leone, a country shaken by a cruel civil war and erratic military rule, and became president in multiparty elections in 1996, only to be deposed in a coup the next year.
He was restored to power in February 1998 by the troops of Ecomog, the monitoring group of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas). When these were replaced by a UN force, the risk of a new collapse brought in British troops. The first unstable six years of his presidency may not have provided a heroic record, but his second term proved to be important in the restoration of democracy in a country deeply attached to it. He was restored to power in February 1998 by the troops of Ecomog, the monitoring group of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas). When these were replaced by a UN force, the risk of a new collapse brought in British troops. The first unstable six years of his presidency may not have provided a heroic record, but his second term proved to be important in the restoration of democracy to his country.
Kabbah was born in Pendembu, a town in eastern Sierra Leone. His father was a trader, from a Mandingo ethnic background, and his mother came from a prominent local Mende family. Kabbah was brought up mainly in the capital, Freetown, and, although his parents were Muslims, was educated at St Edward's Catholic school there. After a spell at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, from which he graduated in 1959 with an economics degree, he returned home, while still studying law – he was called to the bar at Gray's Inn, London, in 1969.Kabbah was born in Pendembu, a town in eastern Sierra Leone. His father was a trader, from a Mandingo ethnic background, and his mother came from a prominent local Mende family. Kabbah was brought up mainly in the capital, Freetown, and, although his parents were Muslims, was educated at St Edward's Catholic school there. After a spell at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, from which he graduated in 1959 with an economics degree, he returned home, while still studying law – he was called to the bar at Gray's Inn, London, in 1969.
His memoir, Coming Back from the Brink (2009), recorded that he was "among the first crop of qualified Sierra Leoneans to replace the British administration". After independence in 1961, he rose rapidly, supported by the ruling Sierra Leone People's party (SLPP), to become deputy permanent secretary at the Ministry of Trade and Industry in 1963. His memoir, Coming Back from the Brink in Sierra Leone (2009), recorded that he was "among the first crop of qualified Sierra Leoneans to replace the British administration". After independence in 1961, he rose rapidly, supported by the ruling Sierra Leone People's party, to become deputy permanent secretary at the Ministry of Trade and Industry in 1963.
Sierra Leone's first military coup, in 1967, cast a political shadow, and the arrival in power of the opposition All People's Congress (APC) was a major factor in Kabbah's leaving the country and eventually joining the United Nations development programme, under which he worked in a number of African countries for two decades from 1972. Sierra Leone's first military coup, in 1967, cast a political shadow, and the arrival in power of the opposition All People's Congress was a major factor in Kabbah's leaving the country and eventually joining the UN development programme, under which he worked in a number of African countries for two decades from 1972.
In 1992, he reached retirement age. Valentine Strasser's coup in April that year presaged political change, and in spite of the outbreak of rebellion under Foday Sankoh's Revolutionary United Front (RUF) Kabbah returned home to chair a national advisory council. The worsening of the brutal rebellion created tensions leading to Strasser's overthrow and elections at the beginning of 1996, in which Kabbah was the SLPP candidate. Although in parts of the country voting was problematic, the pressure for democracy was great. Kabbah won on the second round, in March 1996, supported by nearly 60% of voters. In 1992, he reached retirement age. Valentine Strasser's coup in April that year presaged political change, and in spite of the outbreak of rebellion under Foday Sankoh's Revolutionary United Front, Kabbah returned home to chair a national advisory council. The worsening of the brutal rebellion created tensions leading to Strasser's overthrow and elections at the beginning of 1996, in which Kabbah was the SLPP candidate. Although in parts of the country voting was problematic, the pressure for democracy was great. Kabbah won on the second round, in March 1996, supported by nearly 60% of voters.
As Sierra Leone's first Muslim president, he had a policy of political inclusion that led to a broad-based administration. But his main pledge, to end the war, foundered in the coup of May 1997, despite the signing of a peace agreement with the RUF in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, in December 1996. As Sierra Leone's first Muslim president, he had a policy of political inclusion that led to a broad-based administration. But his main pledge, to end the war, foundered in the coup of May 1997, despite the signing of a peace agreement with the RUF in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, in December 1996. The coup installed Johnny Paul Koroma (already detained for a coup attempt the previous September) as head of state. Kabbah was evacuated to Guinea by Ecomog. Its limited presence in Sierra Leone was an extension of its force in Liberia, where the former rebel leader Charles Taylor, main backer of the RUF, was overwhelmingly elected president in July 1997, a dangerous development for Sierra Leone.
The coup installed Johnny Paul Koroma (already detained for a coup attempt the previous September) as head of state. Kabbah was evacuated to Guinea by Ecomog. Its limited presence in Sierra Leone was an extension of its force in Liberia, where the former rebel leader Charles Taylor, main backer of the RUF, was overwhelmingly elected president in July 1997, a dangerous development for Sierra Leone. Although Kabbah had been able to secure massive diplomatic support (for example, at the Edinburgh Commonwealth summit), the major turning point for Sierra Leone was the 1998 intervention by Ecomog forces backed by the Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha, which enabled them to retake Freetown and reinstate Kabbah. Further ambivalent peace deals brought Sankoh closer to power, despite the dispatch of a significant UN force supplanting Ecomog. The rebellion continued, and in 2000 Tony Blair sent in British troops, ostensibly to evacuate UK citizens, but who, in practice, backed the UN to shore up Kabbah's regime. A joint operation took on, defeated and disarmed the RUF over the next 18 months, and in January 2002 Kabbah officially declared the war over.
Although Kabbah had been able to secure massive diplomatic support (for example, at the Edinburgh Commonwealth summit), the major turning point for Sierra Leone was the 1998 intervention by Ecomog forces backed by the Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha, which enabled them to retake Freetown and reinstate Kabbah. Further ambivalent peace deals brought Sankoh closer to power, despite the dispatch of a significant UN force supplanting Ecomog.
The rebellion continued, and in 2000 Tony Blair sent in British troops, ostensibly to evacuate British citizens, but who in practice backed the UN to shore up Kabbah's regime. A joint operation took on, defeated and disarmed the RUF over the next 18 months, and in January 2002 Kabbah officially declared the war over.
Later that year he stood again for election and, as war victor, won convincingly, with 70% of the vote, against Ernest Bai Koroma of the APC, who was to be election winner in 2007, when the constitution prevented Kabbah seeking a third term. He was much praised for his influence in ensuring that the SLPP's transition from government to opposition took place peaceably.Later that year he stood again for election and, as war victor, won convincingly, with 70% of the vote, against Ernest Bai Koroma of the APC, who was to be election winner in 2007, when the constitution prevented Kabbah seeking a third term. He was much praised for his influence in ensuring that the SLPP's transition from government to opposition took place peaceably.
By this time, Sierra Leone was starting on the road to economic recovery, and although some of the old pre-civil-war vices had not been eliminated and poverty was still deeply entrenched, the country had a new, more optimistic spirit. By this time, Sierra Leone was starting on the road to economic recovery, and although some of the old pre-civil war vices had not been eliminated and poverty was still deeply entrenched, the country had a new, more optimistic spirit.
Kabbah undoubtedly has his place in history, but perhaps more as victim of events than shaper of them. He depended heavily on outside interventions – both Blair and Abacha became national heroes in Sierra Leone.Kabbah undoubtedly has his place in history, but perhaps more as victim of events than shaper of them. He depended heavily on outside interventions – both Blair and Abacha became national heroes in Sierra Leone.
Kabbah's own reputation remained high, and he participated in election observance for both the Commonwealth and the African Union. If seeming to lack dynamism, in conversation he conveyed an impression of calm sagacity and was widely respected in Sierra Leone.Kabbah's own reputation remained high, and he participated in election observance for both the Commonwealth and the African Union. If seeming to lack dynamism, in conversation he conveyed an impression of calm sagacity and was widely respected in Sierra Leone.
His wife, Patricia (nee Tucker), died in 1998. He is survived by five children and three grandchildren.His wife, Patricia (nee Tucker), died in 1998. He is survived by five children and three grandchildren.
• Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, politician, born 16 February 1932; died 13 March 2014• Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, politician, born 16 February 1932; died 13 March 2014