| Conventional Long Name: | Dominion of Sierra Leone |
| Common Name: | Sierra Leone |
| Era: | Decolonisation of Africa |
| Empire: | Independent |
| S1: | Sierra LeoneRepublic of Sierra Leone |
| Flag S1: | Flag of Sierra Leone.svg |
| P1: | Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate |
| Flag P1: | Flag of Sierra Leone (1916–1961).svg |
| Capital: | Freetown |
| National Motto: | Unity, Freedom, Justice |
| Government Type: | Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy |
| Title Leader: | Queen |
| Leader1: | Elizabeth II |
| Year Leader1: | 1961–1971 |
| Representative1: | See list |
| Year Representative1: | 1961–1971 |
| Title Deputy: | Prime Minister |
| Deputy1: | See list |
| Year Deputy1: | 1961–1971 |
| Event Start: | Independence |
| Date Start: | 27 April |
| Year Start: | 1961 |
| Event End: | Republic |
| Date End: | 19 April |
| Year End: | 1971 |
| Currency: | British West African pound (1961–1964) Sierra Leonean Leone (1964–1971) |
| Iso3166code: | omit |
| Stat Year1: | 1963 |
| Stat Pop1: | 2,180,355[1] |
| Stat Year2: | 1965 |
| Stat Pop2: | 2,473,294[2] |
| Stat Year3: | 1970 |
| Stat Pop3: | 2,692,259 |
| Today: | Sierra Leone |
The Dominion of Sierra Leone was an independent sovereign state with Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state between independence on 27 April 1961 and becoming the Republic of Sierra Leone on 19 April 1971.[3]
When British rule ended in April 1961, the British Crown Colony of Sierra Leone was given independence under the Sierra Leone Independence Act 1961.[4] Elizabeth II, remained the head of state of Sierra Leone[5] and was represented in Sierra Leone by a Governor-General. Sierra Leone shared the Sovereign with other countries, including the United Kingdom.
On 27 April 1961, Sierra Leone gained independence.
In 1962, general elections were won by the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP). The All People's Congress (APC) emerged as the most organised opposition.
In March 1964, Njala University opened. On 28 April 1964, Prime Minister Sir Milton Margai died. His brother, Sir Albert Margai, was appointed as the new prime minister. On 4 August 1964, Sierra Leone's decimal currency, the Sierra Leonean leone, was introduced to replace the British West African pound.
In 1967, general elections were held in Sierra Leone. The APC won by a narrow margin. Brigadier John Lansana, head of the military, seized control of government immediately after swearing in of the new APC prime minister, Siaka Stevens. Lansana was ousted a few days later by junior military officers who invited Andrew Juxon-Smith, a senior officer on leave, to return and head a provisional government, the National Reformation Council (NRC).
In 1968, the NRC was overthrown by warrant officers of the army. John Bangura, a formerly dismissed senior officer, invited to head the army. Bangura turned over government to the APC, led by Siaka Stevens.
In 1969, the University of Sierra Leone was set up, comprising Fourah Bay College and Njala University.
On 19 April 1971, Sierra Leone became a republic with Siaka Stevens as the first executive President of the Republic.
The Governors-General of Sierra Leone were:
The Prime Ministers (and heads of government) of Sierra Leone during this period were:
Queen Elizabeth II visited Sierra Leone from 25 November to 1 December 1961, shortly after independence.[6]
Sierra Leone became a republic within the Commonwealth on the promulgation of the 1971 Constitution of Sierra Leone and Prime Minister Siaka Stevens became the first President of Sierra Leone.[7]