Sierra Leone Celebrates its independece day - April 27

 

On 27 April 1961, Sir Milton Margai led Sierra Leone to independence from Great Britain and became the country's first Prime Minister.

Thousands of Sierra Leoneans took to the streets in celebration. Sierra Leone retained a parliamentary system of government and was a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

The leader of the main opposition APC, Siaka Stevens, along with Isaac Wallace-Johnson, another outspoken critic of the SLPP government, were arrested and placed under house arrest  in Freetown, along with sixteen house arrestothers charged with disrupting the independence celebration.

In May 1962, Sierra Leone held its 1st General Election  as an Independent Nation.

The Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) won a plurality of seats in parliament, and Sir Milton Margai was re-elected as prime minister.