Abass Bundu
Abass Chernor Bundu (born 1948 in Gbinti, Port Loko District) is a Sierra Leonean politician, diplomat, and the current Speaker of the Sierra Leone House of Parliament, in office since April 25, 2018. Bundu was elected speaker by receiving 70 votes in Parliament. The main opposition the All People's Congress, which won the most seats in Parliament, boycotted the election process in protest and did not nominate a candidate for speaker. Bundu is a veteran politician, and a very close ally and personal friend of Sierra Leone's president Julius Maada Bio.
Abass Chernor Bundu | |
|---|---|
| Speaker of the House of Parliament of Sierra Leone | |
| Assumed office 25 April 2018 | |
| President | Julius Maada Bio |
| Preceded by | Sheku Badara Bashiru Dumbuya |
| Northern Regional Chairman of the Sierra Leone People's Party | |
| Assumed office 2013 | |
| Leader of the Progressive People's Party (PPP) | |
| In office 1996–1996 | |
| Sierra Leone Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 1994–1995 | |
| Preceded by | Karefa Kargbo |
| Succeeded by | Alusine Fofanah |
| Executive Secretary of the Economic Community of West African States | |
| In office 1989–1993 | |
| Preceded by | Momodu Munu |
| Succeeded by | Edouard Benjamin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Abass Chernoh Bundu 3 June 1948 Gbinti, British Sierra Leone |
| Political party | Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) |
| Residence(s) | Freetown, Sierra Leone, |
| Alma mater | Australian National University, University of Cambridge |
| Profession | Economist, attorney |
Before being elected speaker, Bundu was the northern regional chairman of the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP). He is one of the most senior and one of the most influential members of the ruling Sierra Leone People's Party
Bundu is the older brother of Ibrahim Bundu, a member of Parliament of the main opposition All People's Congress.
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.
Bundu holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the Australian National University and both a Master of Laws and a PhD in International Law from the University of Cambridge in England.