Julius Maada Bio

Julius Maada Bio ( born 1964 ) in 1996 was briefly head of state of Sierra Leone and General of the Sierra Leone Armed Forces.

Head of state

General Bio initiated on 16 January 1996 the coup against Valentine Strasser, his deputy, he was so far. The new government suspended the initially scheduled for February 26, 1996 elections, through the Sierra Leone should get a civilian government. His takeover was initially viewed with skepticism, since Bios sister allegedly held an important position in the rebel Revolutionary United Front and sent a close relationship with Nigeria's dictator Sani Abacha was said.

The first free elections in decades in late February found then but instead, and Bio handed over power on 29 March 1996 to the elected President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah. The ongoing civil war since 1991 was during Bios further short term, trying in vain to come up with the rebels to an understanding.

More career

Bio then went into the private sector and was involved in charitable organizations. He was regarded as a potential candidate for the office of Vice President in the presidential elections of 2007. During the 2012 presidential election, he was the candidate of the opposition SLPP party and ran against incumbent Ernest Koroma (APC ). Bio lost the election on 17 November 2012, 37.4 to 58.7 percent Koroma. Although observers spoke of free and fair elections, called Bio citizens to to appeal against the outcome of a complaint to the Supreme Court and held upright manipulation allegations.