MINISTER OF DEFENCE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE ARMED FORCES...
Major (RTD), Alfred Palo Conteh, LLM, LLB (Hons) (London) Barrister
Minister of Defence
Major(Rtd) AP Conteh joined the Republic of Sierra Leone Military Forces in April 1976, trained at the
Egyptian Military Academy, Cairo, Egypt. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in April 1978.
He served as a Platoon Commander in Benguema Training Centre (BTC). Later appointed Adjutant of BTC.
In 1981 he was posted to the Military Police as Officer Commanding (the first officer to serve in that capacity).
He was promoted Captain in 1983.
In 1986 he proceeded to England to study law. He was promoted to Major in 1990 and subsequently graduated in the
same year with a Bachelor of Law (LLB) with honors. After his retirement from the Military in 1992, he was called
to the Bar of England and Wales in November 1992. He was Team Leader Prosecution at the Department for Work and Pensions,
Fraud investigation Section. In 2006 he graduated with a Master of Law (LLM) in Human Rights. He was appointed Minister of
Defence in 2007 and was re-appointed after November 17 2012 election as Defence Minister in January 2013.
Maj (Rtd) Conteh is a keen sportsman and was Sierra Leone’s 400m National Record Holder. During his military training in Egypt,
he represented the Academy in 400m. He was awarded a medal, “Supremacy in Games” by the Commandant of the Academy. His 1980 Army
400m record remains unbroken. He plays Football, Tennis, Volleyball, Squash and he is a member of the Freetown Running Club
(Freetown House Hash Harriers). He supports Tottenham Hotspur FC and The Mighty Blackpool FC, SL.
