Why Sierra Leone became a republic in 1971: WASSCE Government

On 19 April 1971, Sierra Leone stopped being a constitutional monarchy under the British Crown and became a republic. Two days later, Prime Minister Siaka Stevens was sworn in as the country's first executive President. The change came only weeks after soldiers had tried to overthrow him. This lesson explains why Sierra Leone became a republic and how the change was carried out.

Learning objectives

By the end of this lesson you should be able to:

define a republic
explain the reasons why Sierra Leone became a republic in 1971
describe the events surrounding the change
explain the role of Siaka Stevens and the APC

What is a republic?

Definition

A republic is a state whose head of state is a citizen chosen for a fixed term, rather than a hereditary monarch. In an executive republic, the president is both head of state and head of government.

Reasons for the change

Six reasons around the republic of 19 April 1971: full sovereignty, national pride, a final court at home, APC policy, a strong executive and the African trend

Figure 1. Reasons for the 1971 republic. WASSCE Tutor diagram.

Full sovereignty: a foreign monarch as head of state was seen as a sign of incomplete independence.
National pride and identity: Sierra Leoneans wanted one of their own as head of state.
Ending appeals to the Privy Council: final justice should be decided at home.
APC policy: the APC had long promised a republic; it now had the majority to deliver it.
A strong executive: after the coups of 1967 and 1968 and the attempted coup of March 1971, Stevens argued that the country needed a powerful president with clear authority over the armed forces.
The African trend: Ghana (1960), Tanzania (1962), Nigeria (1963) and others had already become republics.
Removing the Governor-General's role, which had been at the centre of the 1967 crisis.

How the change happened

Date	Event
1967–1968	An earlier republican proposal by Albert Margai's SLPP government fails amid the 1967 election crisis
March 1971	An attempted military coup against Prime Minister Stevens fails; troops from Guinea are invited to help protect the government under a defence agreement
April 1971	Parliament, dominated by the APC, passes the Republican Constitution
19 April 1971	Sierra Leone becomes a republic; the acting Governor-General, Christopher Okoro Cole, becomes interim President
21 April 1971	Siaka Stevens is sworn in as executive President

19 April is still remembered as Republic Day.

Siaka Stevens and the APC

Siaka Stevens (1905–1988) founded the APC in 1960, became Prime Minister in 1968 and President in 1971.
He presented the republic as the completion of independence and a way to stabilise the country.
Critics argued that the change concentrated power in his hands and weakened the checks of the parliamentary system.

In Sierra Leone

The attempted coup of March 1971, led by army commander Brigadier John Bangura, failed. Stevens turned to neighbouring Guinea, whose President, Ahmed Sékou Touré, sent troops to help protect him. Bangura was tried and executed. Weeks later, the republic was declared, giving Stevens the powers of an executive President. Supporters saw a stronger, more secure government; opponents saw the start of a slide towards one-party rule.

Common mistake

Siaka Stevens was not the very first President of the Republic. Christopher Okoro Cole, who had been acting Governor-General, served as interim President for two days (19 to 21 April 1971) before Stevens was sworn in as executive President.

Key points

A republic has an elected or chosen citizen as head of state, not a hereditary monarch.
Reasons: full sovereignty, national pride, ending Privy Council appeals, APC policy, a strong executive after coups, the African trend.
March 1971: failed coup; Guinean troops invited.
19 April 1971: republic declared (C. O. Cole interim President); 21 April 1971: Siaka Stevens executive President.

WASSCE examination focus

WAEC tests this

Expect to explain why Sierra Leone became a republic in 1971 and to describe the events surrounding the change. Objective questions often test the date (19 April 1971) and who became the first executive President.

Quick check

On what date did Sierra Leone become a republic?
Who became Sierra Leone's first executive President?
State three reasons why Sierra Leone became a republic.
Which country sent troops to support Stevens after the attempted coup of 1971?

Answers:

19 April 1971.
Siaka Stevens (sworn in on 21 April 1971).
Any three: full sovereignty; national pride; ending Privy Council appeals; APC policy; need for a strong executive after coups; the trend among African states; removing the Governor-General's role.
Guinea.

Why Sierra Leone became a republic in 1971