Update: Sierra Leone Lifts Nationwide Curfew

The unrest in Sierra Leone has taken a severe toll, resulting in the loss of 19 lives during the violent attacks on Sunday, with 13 soldiers among the deceased. Gunmen assaulted a military barracks and prisons in a coordinated and meticulously planned series of events that brought chaos to Freetown.

While the country was under a nationwide curfew, armed individuals, some adorned in military attire and masks, chanted about “cleansing” Sierra Leone. The attacks claimed the lives of military personnel, a police officer, a civilian, a private security employee, and three assailants, while also leaving eight soldiers injured.

Information Minister Chernoh Bah emphasised the gravity of the situation, labelling the attacks as an organised assault on the nation’s security and stability. He indicated that some current and former military figures were involved, with several detained for interrogation by security forces.

Despite speculations about a potential coup, authorities are conducting inquiries to determine the motives behind the assailants’ actions. Witnesses observed an attempt to breach the presidential residence, yet the assailants failed to seize control, leading to speculation about their intended targets.

Former President Ernest Koroma was close to the violence, reporting the death of one of his guards and the abduction of another. The government, through President Julius Maada Bio and the information minister, assured citizens of restored order in the capital but acknowledged ongoing efforts to capture the attackers and escaped prisoners.

President Bio condemned the violence as an assault on democracy, and a new night-time curfew has been imposed as part of security measures. Sierra Leone has experienced political tension since Bio’s re-election, with concerns raised by international observers regarding the electoral process, transparency, and incidents of violence.

The international community, including the US, European Union, UK, and Ecowas, strongly condemned Sunday’s violence. Additionally, a delegation from Ecowas and Nigeria is expected to meet with Sierra Leone’s foreign minister, marking a crucial engagement amid this turbulent period.