Tinga Seisay
Encyclopedia
Samuel Tinga Khendekha Seisay (born 22 August 1928) is a Sierra Leone
an pro-democracy
activist and diplomat
.
. He began his career as a law enforcement officer after graduating from the Police Training School at Hastings. After several years with the Sierra Leonean police force, Seisay departed for Europe to continue his studies. A gifted student, Seisay was accepted at the Royal Institute of Technology
in Sweden
where he read engineering and took his bachelors degree. While he was a student, Seisay had a life changing meeting with Martin Luther King in Stockholm which deepened his interest in nonviolent
activism.
Seisay earned a masters degree in political science
at Long Island University
. He is a PhD candidate at The New School
in New York
.
. In 1968, Juxon Smith's government was overthrown in the Sergeants' Coup. Seisay was then appointed Deputy Commissioner of the Sierra Leonean Police Force by the ruling junta. Seisay proved to be most efficient in this post especially considering the difficult political climate and skillfully helped manage the transition.
Seisay was initially tapped to serve as Sierra Leone's Ambassador
to Egypt
but was instead appointed Consul General to the United States
. He was stationed in New York where he served for six years. He worked to secure educational scholarships for Sierra Leonean students in various fields, primarily education.
Under his leadership, the Sierra Leone Consulate became financially self-sufficient. Seisay also served as Dean of the Consular Corps.
He sat on the Fifth Committee of the United Nations General Assembly
for several years.
staged an unsuccessful military coup. Bangura was executed for treason. Seisay became an opponent of the Stevens government. He left his post as Consul General and began to protest the decline of democracy in Sierra Leone. He publicly criticized the Steven's regime in the New York Times.
, Director of Prisons, and former Prime Minister Albert Margai
until Margai's death in 1980. Seisay aided Sierra Leoneans who fled from persecution to get political asylum in the United States. In 1987, Seisay's political exile ended when Joseph Saidu Momoh
became President of Sierra Leone.
, he continuing to work internationally and remained devoted to the cause of re-establishing democracy in Sierra Leone. In the early 1960's, he married a member of the Swedish aristocracy
and they raised their family in Westchester County, New York.
He has lectured at several universities, including Dartmouth
, and published a number of articles and op-eds most notably in West Africa
and Christian Science Monitor.
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...
an pro-democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
activist and diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
.
Early life
Born to a prominent political family, Seisay was educated at the prestigious St. Edward's Secondary SchoolSt. Edward's Secondary School
St Edward's Secondary School is a public Catholic secondary school in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Since its inception it has remained one of the country's most prestigious schools. While St. Edwards is designed to be an all-male school, female students are permitted to enroll as A Level candidates. It...
. He began his career as a law enforcement officer after graduating from the Police Training School at Hastings. After several years with the Sierra Leonean police force, Seisay departed for Europe to continue his studies. A gifted student, Seisay was accepted at the Royal Institute of Technology
Royal Institute of Technology
The Royal Institute of Technology is a university in Stockholm, Sweden. KTH was founded in 1827 as Sweden's first polytechnic and is one of Scandinavia's largest institutions of higher education in technology. KTH accounts for one-third of Sweden’s technical research and engineering education...
in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
where he read engineering and took his bachelors degree. While he was a student, Seisay had a life changing meeting with Martin Luther King in Stockholm which deepened his interest in nonviolent
Nonviolence
Nonviolence has two meanings. It can refer, first, to a general philosophy of abstention from violence because of moral or religious principle It can refer to the behaviour of people using nonviolent action Nonviolence has two (closely related) meanings. (1) It can refer, first, to a general...
activism.
Seisay earned a masters degree in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
at Long Island University
Long Island University
Long Island University is a private, coeducational, nonsectarian institution of higher education in the U.S. state of New York.-History:...
. He is a PhD candidate at The New School
The New School
The New School is a university in New York City, located mostly in Greenwich Village. From its founding in 1919 by progressive New York academics, and for most of its history, the university was known as the New School for Social Research. Between 1997 and 2005 it was known as New School University...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Diplomatic career
In 1967, Seisay founded the Sierra Leone Ex-Police Officers Association. He was elected as their representative to the Civilian Rule Committee, that was going to restore civilian rule in Sierra after the military government of Andrew Juxon-SmithAndrew 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...
. In 1968, Juxon Smith's government was overthrown in the Sergeants' Coup. Seisay was then appointed Deputy Commissioner of the Sierra Leonean Police Force by the ruling junta. Seisay proved to be most efficient in this post especially considering the difficult political climate and skillfully helped manage the transition.
Seisay was initially tapped to serve as Sierra Leone's Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
but was instead appointed Consul General to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He was stationed in New York where he served for six years. He worked to secure educational scholarships for Sierra Leonean students in various fields, primarily education.
Under his leadership, the Sierra Leone Consulate became financially self-sufficient. Seisay also served as Dean of the Consular Corps.
He sat on the Fifth Committee of the United Nations General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
for several years.
Fight for Democracy
After Steven's declared a one-party state, Seisay's cousin John Amadu BanguraJohn Amadu Bangura
Brigadier John Amadu Bangura was the acting Governor-General of Sierra Leone from 18 April 1968 until 22 April 1968. He led the Sargents Coup in 1968 that successfully re-instated civilian rule in Sierra Leone.- Early life :...
staged an unsuccessful military coup. Bangura was executed for treason. Seisay became an opponent of the Stevens government. He left his post as Consul General and began to protest the decline of democracy in Sierra Leone. He publicly criticized the Steven's regime in the New York Times.
Political Exile
Seisay then went into self-imposed political exile, from which he advocated non-violent resistance. Among his allies were his older brother Solomon G. SeisaySolomon G. Seisay
children=malcolm,olive,maada,ansumana,sarah.Solomon George Seisay was a Sierra Leonean civil servant who made history when he became the nation's first indigenous National Director of Prisons.-Early life:...
, Director of Prisons, and former Prime Minister Albert Margai
Albert Margai
Sir Albert Michael Margai was the second prime minister of Sierra Leone and the half-brother of Sir Milton Margai, the country's first Prime Minister...
until Margai's death in 1980. Seisay aided Sierra Leoneans who fled from persecution to get political asylum in the United States. In 1987, Seisay's political exile ended when Joseph Saidu Momoh
Joseph Saidu Momoh
Major General Joseph Saidu Momoh was the President of Sierra Leone from November, 1985 to April 29, 1992.- Biography :...
became President of Sierra Leone.
Later Career and Private Life
Seisay became an executive in the private sector. Based in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, he continuing to work internationally and remained devoted to the cause of re-establishing democracy in Sierra Leone. In the early 1960's, he married a member of the Swedish aristocracy
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
and they raised their family in Westchester County, New York.
He has lectured at several universities, including Dartmouth
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
, and published a number of articles and op-eds most notably in West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
and Christian Science Monitor.