 How this 19-year-old African boy became the world's youngest president by mistake. On April 26, 1967, Valentine Esagraebo Melvine-Stressor was born. He was a former military officer who served as president of Sierra Leone from 1992 to 1996. After previously serving as a junior military commander, he became the world's youngest head of state in 1992. Three days after his 25th birthday, he was the leader of a gang of six young Sierra Leonean soldiers who overthrew President Joseph Sedumamo in the 1992 Sierra Leonean coup. They established a military junta, the National Provisional Ruling Council NPRC. After nearly four years in office, Strasser was deposed in a second military coup led by his deputy Brigadier General Julius Modibio in January 1996. Strasser is one of only two Sierra Leonean heads of state who were born after the country's independence. He is also Sierra Leone's second Creole to be elected president. Strasser was born to Creole parents in the Allentown neighborhood of Freetown Sierra Leone's capital. He enlisted in the Republic of Sierra Leone military forces, RSLMF, at the age of 18 after graduating from secondary school. Thank you for joining us on Africa Reloaded. Today, we will delve into the life of Valentine Esagradbo Melvine Strasser, the world's youngest Sierra Leonean president. Take a seat and relax as we make this unexpected discovery. Valentine Esagradbo's early life Valentine Esagradbo is a musician from Nigeria. Melvine Strasser was born on April 26, 1967 in Freetown, Sierra Leone, to Creole parents. At the time of Strasser's birth, Sir Albert Margai was the prime minister of Sierra Leone, which was governed by a parliamentary government. Strasser grew up in Freetown's extreme east ends Allentown neighborhood. Strasser completed his secondary education at the Sierra Leone Grammar School in Freetown in 1985 at the age of 18. During his secondary school years, Strasser excelled in math and chemistry. His military career, after graduating from secondary school in 1985, he enlisted in the Republic of Sierra Leone military forces at the age of 18 and was assigned to the Bingma Military Training Academy in Bingma, a town just outside of Freetown, for military training as a cadet officer. After completing his training, he was commissioned into the Sierra Leone Army at the age of 19. He was assigned to a military barracks in Daru, Kailahan District, eastern Sierra Leone. The Revolutionary United Front, rough, led by Fade Senko, launched their first attack in Kailahan District's Beudew Villages on March 25, 1991. Strasser and other troops were brought there from a military base in Kailahan. Valentine Strasser fought in Sierra Leone against the Liberian invasion, primarily in the east and south, before President Mammo was deposed by his successor. In his fight, Strasser had to deal with domestic rebels, also known as sobles. President Mammo's reign was brief because he refused to listen to Sierra Leoneans at the time, who desired a more cooperative political system and believed Mammo delivered no more than his predecessor. The 1992 coup and head of state of Sierra Leone. During Strasser's time fighting the RUF in Kailahan District, the Sierra Leone government, and by President Joseph Ceddo Mammo, lacked adequate boots and military equipment to help Strasser and his fellow soldiers in the conflict. The soldiers were never paid on time, and their well-being was far down the government's priority list. Despite several appeals, warnings, and threats, the young soldiers decided to march down from Kailahan to the state house in Freetown on April 29, 1992, in protest of their setbacks in pursuing the war and demanding their outstanding salaries. Strasser led the squad of soldiers, along with his two best friends and fellow soldiers, Surgeon Solomon Nusa and Captain Sar Sandy. As military appeared in the capital city, President Mammo was forced to flee the country and went into exile in Kanakri, Guinea. Strasser and his troops seized control, establishing the National People's Revolutionary Committee, with Strasser as its commander and the country's head of state. Strasser became the world's youngest head of state at the age of 25. The 1996 coup d'état Strasser was deposed in a military coup in January 1996, after nearly four years in power, but this time by members of his own NPRC, who were unhappy with his handling of the peace process. Brigadier General Julius Montabayo, his deputy Colonel Tom Numa and Captain Comba Monde were in charge of the coup. With the help of Numa and Monde, Bio rose quickly to become the coup's leader and was elected president of Sierra Leone. Post-head of state After his overthrow, Strasser was offered a UN fellowship to study law at the University of Warwick in Coventry, England, but he dropped out after 18 months. Strasser's asylum application was denied in England in 2000, so he fled to Gambia, only to be denied entry. He eventually returned to Sierra Leone, where he lived in poverty on a meager pension in Grafton, east of Freetown, and taught computer skills to teenagers at the ICT Institute. In January 2019, he became critically ill and was flown to Ghana for treatment. His left leg was partially amputated due to peripheral artery disease. After undergoing rehabilitation and receiving an apartment from President Bio, he returned to Sierra Leone in July 2021. Later, and Madhu Makalokweda of the opposition, all people's Congress claimed that the government had placed Strasser under house arrest. If you enjoyed the discovery, stay connected to our channel by clicking on the notification button for more upcoming videos. 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