Preceded by Karefa Kargbo Role Politician Name Abass Bundu | Nationality Sierra Leonean Preceded by Momodu Munu Succeeded by Alusine Fofanah | |
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Political party Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) Residence Freetown, Sierra Leone, Alma mater Australian National University, University of Cambridge Party Sierra Leone People's Party Education Australian National University, University of Cambridge | ||
Abass Bundu Wahala: Has he reached his political sell by date? 1 of 3
Abass Chernor Bundu (born in Gbinti, Port Loko District) is a Sierra Leonean politician, diplomat and educationist. He is currently the northern regional chairman of the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP). He is the older brother of Ibrahim Bundu, who is the majority leader of the Sierra Leone Parliament.
Contents
- Abass Bundu Wahala Has he reached his political sell by date 1 of 3
- Early life
- Education
- Career
- Opposition to President Momoh
- Presidential campaign
- Alleged corruption and exoneration
- References
From 1989 to 1993, Bundu was the executive secretary of the Economic Community of West African States. Bundu was the head of several ministries in Sierra Leone, including Foreign Affairs and Agriculture. He was the presidential candidate of the now defunct Progressive People's Party (PPP) in the 1996 Sierra Leone presidential election, where he was defeated in the first round of voting after winning 2.9% of the votes.
Born into a prominent Bundu family in the rural town of Gbinti, Port Loko District in the north of Sierra Leone, Bundu holds both a Bachelor and a Master of Laws from the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia and a PhD in economics from the University of Cambridge in England.
Early life
Abass Chernor Bundu was born in the rural town of Gbinti, Port Loko District in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone. Bundu was born into a prominent Bundu Family who are off Temne and Fula descents. Abass Bundu grew up in a deeply religious Muslim household and he, himself, is a devout Muslim.
Education
Bundu attended the St. Andrews Secondary School in Bo, the Methodist Boys' High School in Freetown and the St. Edward's Secondary School also in Freetown. While in secondary school, Bundu was a very brilliant student and he was highly admired by his fellow students and teachers.
Immediately after secondary school, Bundu left Sierra Leone as a youth and moved abroad to further his education. Bundu holds an Honours LL.B degree from the Australian National University (ANU),LL.M (Honours) and a PhD from the University of Cambridge. He is also a Barrister-at-Law.
Career
Bundu's numerous positions include Assistant Director of International Affairs and Consultant in Constitutional Law in the Commonwealth Secretariat in London from 1975–82; Executive Secretary of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) from 1989–1993, the posts of Foreign Minister (1994–1995), Minister of Agriculture 1982–85; and Presidential candidate in the 1996 Presidential election in Sierra Leone. Bundu failed to garner much support in the election, gaining just under 30,000 votes or 2.9% of the national vote. He is an expert on West African affairs and a renowned expert on constitutional and international law. Bundu has written a critical analysis of the Civil War in Sierra Leone, Democracy by Force?
Opposition to President Momoh
In 1991, Dr. Bundu strongly criticised President Joseph Saidu Momoh's government because of clauses their party wished to add to Sierra Leone's constitution. He was then forced to leave the All People's Congress (APC).
Dr. Bundu contested the 1996 elections as not democratically free and fair.
Presidential campaign
In 1996, Bundu formed his own political party and ran for president in Sierra Leone. His bid was unsuccessful.
Alleged corruption and exoneration
In 1996 Bundu was prosecuted for alleged illegal sale of Sierra Leone passports under the immigration investment programme. In October 2005 Government of Sierra Leone dropped the prosecution and publicly exonerated Bundu of any wrongdoing based on new evidence which, had it been available in 1996, would not have given rise to any prosecution.