Meet Valentine Esegragbo Melvine Strasser world’s youngest Head of State in 1992 and the Youngest Ever President in Africa
Valentine Esegragbo Melvine Strasser, commonly known as Valentine Strasser, was born on April 26, 1967, in Freetown, Sierra Leone. He grew up in a middle-class family and received his education at the Prince of Wales Secondary School in Freetown.
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In 1992, at the age of 25, Strasser led a military coup that overthrew the government of President Joseph Saidu Momoh. He became the chairman of the National Provisional Ruling Council (NPRC), a military junta that took control of Sierra Leone. As the head of state, Strasser promised to combat corruption and implement political and economic reforms in the country.
During his time in power, Sierra Leone was facing significant challenges, including a rebel insurgency led by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF). The civil war that ensued caused immense suffering and devastation in the country. Strasser’s government was accused of human rights abuses and corruption, and his leadership faced criticism for its inability to effectively address the rebel threat.
In January 1996, Strasser was ousted in another military coup led by his deputy, Julius Maada Bio. After being removed from power, Strasser faced legal challenges and was charged with corruption-related offenses. He went into exile in several countries, including the United Kingdom and Guinea, where he lived for a number of years.
In the early 2000s, Strasser expressed an interest in returning to Sierra Leone and becoming involved in politics. He made an unsuccessful attempt to run for the presidency in the 2002 elections. However, he was disqualified due to a constitutional provision that prohibited former military officers from running for the presidency.
Since then, Strasser has maintained a relatively low profile. Not much information is available about his current activities or involvement in public life. It’s worth noting that the information provided here is based on the knowledge available up until September 2021, and there may have been developments or changes in Strasser’s life since then.
