Sylvia Blyden Details President Bio’s Role in 1996 Coup

Prominent political figure Sylvia Blyden has reflected on the 1996 coup that led to the removal of Captain Valentine Strasser, detailing the roles played by Brigadier Julius Maada Bio and Captain Kwegor Amara, and how the episode shaped Sierra Leone’s political trajectory.

In a statement posted on 16 January 2026, Blyden recalled that exactly 30 years ago, secret plans were put in place to overthrow Strasser. According to her account, Captain Kwegor Amara, who was Strasser’s Chief Security Officer at the time, played a pivotal role in ensuring the success of what she described as a bloodless coup. She said Brigadier Julius Maada Bio, then Deputy Head of State, led the operation and oversaw its overall strategy.

Blyden stated that on the night of 15 January 1996, arrangements were finalized to isolate Strasser from loyalists who could have resisted the takeover. She noted that actions taken by Captain Kwegor Amara effectively weakened Strasser’s security, making the transition of power smoother and minimizing the risk of confrontation.

“Other loyalists were isolated from Strasser by Captain Kwegor Amara in the days preceding the overthrow,” Blyden wrote. “It was a masterpiece coup led by a man who can be described as possessing a PhD in coup plots.”

She further disclosed that her upcoming autobiography will provide a firsthand account of events inside State House and at Cockeril Military Barracks in western Freetown, offering deeper insight into the coup and other defining moments in Sierra Leone’s history.

Blyden’s reflections highlight the pivotal roles played by key actors in the 1996 coup that removed Captain Strasser, underscoring the lasting political significance of the power shift and its impact on the country’s leadership trajectory three decades later.