Major General Joseph Saidu Momoh, OOR, OBE (January 26, 1937 – August 3, 2003) served as President of Sierra Leone from November 1985 to April 29, 1992.[1] Early life and education Joseph Saidu Momoh was born on January 26, 1937 in Binkolo, Bombali District in the Northern Province of British Sierra Leone to Limba parents.[1] In the early 1940s, his family moved to Freetown then Wilberforce.[1] His family were Christians.[1] From 1951 to 1955, he was educated at the West African Methodist Collegiate School.[1] Momoh was very athletic and enjoyed playing tennis, basketball and volleyball.[1] He played competitive football for the Young Stars FC at Makeni and Blackpool FC.[1] He completed his education at the Government Clerks School, Technical Institute.[1] Civil Service In 1956, Momoh worked as third grade clerk in Sierra Leone's civil service.[1] He resigned from this position in 1958 in order to joined in the armed forces.[1] Military career Momoh's military career began in 1958, when he enlisted in the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF) as a private.[1] He trained at the Regular Officers Training School in Ghana and the Nigerian Military Training Academy.[1] He then travelled to the United Kingdom to train at the School of Infantry at Hythe and the Mons Officers Cadet School in Aldershot.[1] He was commissioned as second lieutenant in the Royal Sierra Leone Military Forces in 1963.[1] He was elevated to the rank of major and given command at Moa Barracks, Kailahun.[1] In 1969, Momoh became lieutenant colonel and commanding officer of the First Battalion.[1] A year later, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel.[1] He was appointed deputy force commander in 1971 by President Siaka Stevens, after a coup attempt by Brigadier John Bangura.[1] Momoh succeeded Bangura as force commander in November 1971.[1] In 1974, he was appointed minister of state with cabinet status.[1] He became major-general in 1983.[1] President of Sierra Leone In 1985, Momoh became secretary-general and head of the All People's Congress (APC).[1] The same year, he succeeded President Siaka Stevens by becoming the only candidate in a one- party election in the form of a referendum on 8 October 1985.[1] Momoh became the second President of Sierra Leone and he served from November 28, 1985 to April 29, 1992.