Sierra Leone’s former Chief Minister, Jacob Jusu Saffa, widely known as J.J. Saffa, has made his first public appearance since being replaced by David Moinina Sengeh.

Saffa, who had not been seen in public since July, sparking various speculations about his whereabouts, emerged at a public gathering on Tuesday, March 19th, 2024, marking over seven months since his last appearance.

Having concluded his tenure on July 10th, 2023, Saffa had served as Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister from April 30, 2021. Prior to this role, he held significant positions, notably serving as the National Secretary General of the Sierra Leone People’s Party from 2005 to 2011.

Additionally, from 2018 until he was appointed Chief Minister in 2021, Saffa served as Minister of Finance.

Educationally, Saffa holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Economics from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, and a Master of Arts degree in Economic Development and Planning from the Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in Dakar, Senegal.