David Lansana
Encyclopedia
Brigadier David Lansana (1922–1975) was one of the very few Sierra Leoneans to be educated at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, England during the colonial period. As Lieutenant David Lansana he was a frequent and popular visitor to the home of Sir Robert de Zouche Hall, Governor of Sierra Leone 1952-1956. He was appointed army commander of Sierra Leone
in 1964. Brigadier Lansana took control of the army from British colonial adviser, Brigadier R.D. Blackie when Lansana's close ally Prime Minister Albert Margai came to power. He came from the Mende tribe as did Margai and conflicts existed between northern tribes, the Krios and the Mendes.
In 1967 Margai, who promoted a one party (non-democratic) state was beaten in a general election. Lansana staged a brief coup, arresting Siaka Stevens, the democratic winner of the election and the army was purged of Northern and Krio officers. No trials were ever held. Even after this he was unpopular with many of his fellow Mende officers who did not believe the army should be a tool of internal government. Subsequently Lt.-Colonel Andrew Juxon-Smith
, of the Krio community, who was abroad when the coup took place, was asked to head the military regime the National Reformation Council
, NRC in 1968. In 1975 Lansana was executed for treason.
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
in 1964. Brigadier Lansana took control of the army from British colonial adviser, Brigadier R.D. Blackie when Lansana's close ally Prime Minister Albert Margai came to power. He came from the Mende tribe as did Margai and conflicts existed between northern tribes, the Krios and the Mendes.
In 1967 Margai, who promoted a one party (non-democratic) state was beaten in a general election. Lansana staged a brief coup, arresting Siaka Stevens, the democratic winner of the election and the army was purged of Northern and Krio officers. No trials were ever held. Even after this he was unpopular with many of his fellow Mende officers who did not believe the army should be a tool of internal government. Subsequently Lt.-Colonel Andrew Juxon-Smith
Andrew Juxon-Smith
Brigadier Andrew Terence Juxon-Smith was a politician and military official in Sierra Leone. He was briefly Chairman of the National Reformation Council and acting Governor-General, equivalent to head of the Sierra Leonean state...
, of the Krio community, who was abroad when the coup took place, was asked to head the military regime the National Reformation Council
National Reformation Council
The National Reformation Council, or NRC, was a group of senior military officers with Brigadier Andrew Juxon-Smith as its chairman, who seized control of the Sierra Leone government on March 23, 1968...
, NRC in 1968. In 1975 Lansana was executed for treason.