Valentine Strasser, born on April 26, 1967, became the world’s youngest head of state when he seized power in Sierra Leone at just 25 years old.
After leading a military coup in 1992, he overthrew President Joseph Saidu Momoh and established the National Provisional Ruling Council (NPRC).
Strasser ruled the country as a military dictator until 1996, when he was ousted by his close allies, including Julius Maada Bio.
Strasser was born in Allen Town, Freetown, to Creole parents. At 18, he joined the Republic of Sierra Leone Military Force (RSLMF).
In 1992, amid the ongoing civil war, he led a coup against Momoh’s government, promising reforms, transparency, and a fight against corruption.
His administration hired Executive Outcomes, a South African mercenary group, to battle the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels.
Despite his initial promises, Strasser’s rule became marked by authoritarianism, human rights violations, and political suppression.
His government faced internal power struggles, and in 1996, he was overthrown by his deputy Julius Maada Bio, along with Tom Nyuma and Komba Mondeh.
Forced into exile, he fled to the United Kingdom and later Gambia, though the latter denied him residency in 2000.
Unlike many African leaders, Strasser did not come from a privileged background. He had a relatively high level of education and excelled in science and mathematics during high school.
After losing power, he was awarded a United Nations scholarship to study law at Warwick University, but he dropped out after 18 months. He later sought asylum in the UK, but his request was denied.
With no stable income, Strasser struggled financially upon returning to Sierra Leone. He relied on his mother’s support and was often seen drinking palm wine at roadside stalls, sometimes mocked by those who once praised him.
To earn a living, he took up a job teaching computer skills to young people.
In January 2019, he was flown to Ghana for emergency medical treatment due to a severe vascular condition, leading to the partial amputation of his leg.
He returned to Sierra Leone in July 2021, where he was surprised to learn that President Julius Maada Bio, the very man who overthrew him, had gifted him a home.