The federal government assures the general public it’s ‘in control’ because it pursues suspects within the capital Freetown.
Sierra Leone has declared a nationwide curfew after gunmen attacked a army barracks within the capital, Freetown, based on a authorities assertion.
Sierra Leone’s authorities on Sunday stated they’d repelled the assault on the army’s major Wilberforce barracks and had been answerable for the scenario. The federal government suggested residents to shelter indoors because it carried out a manhunt for the suspects.
Witnesses advised the AFP information company they heard heavy gunfire and explosions within the capital early on Sunday morning, whereas a video shared on social media appeared to point out plumes of smoke rising from the streets.
Different witnesses stated they heard exchanges of fireplace close to a barracks in Murray City district, house to the navy, in addition to outdoors one other army website in Freetown, AFP reported.
Authorities ‘in control’
Info Minister Chernor Bah assured the general public in a statement on Sunday that “the government and its state security forces are in control”. Bah urged residents to “stay indoors” as safety forces “continued the process of apprehending the suspects”.
Sierra Leone’s president Julius Maada Bio confirmed the safety breach in an announcement on his official X social media account Sunday, blaming a bunch or “renegades” for the assault.
Bio stated calm had been “restored” and safety forces had been persevering with to “to root out the remnant of the fleeing renegades”. He urged all residents to unite to guard democracy within the West African nation.
“The PEACE of our beloved NATION is PRICELESS and we shall continue to protect the peace and security of Sierra Leone against the forces that wish to truncate our much-cherished stability,” stated the submit.
Fellow Sierra Leoneans,
I deliver you greetings from the Presidential Lodge in Freetown.
Within the early hours of this morning, there was a breach of safety on the Army Barracks at Wilberforce in Freetown, as some unidentified people attacked the army armoury.…
— President Julius Maada Bio (@PresidentBio) November 26, 2023
In an announcement issued on Sunday, West Africa’s regional bloc, the Financial Neighborhood of West African States (ECOWAS), condemned the try and “disturb constitutional order” in Sierra Leone.
Rising unrest
Sierra Leone has seen political violence and unrest because the re-election of President Julius Maada Bio in June.
That election was the fifth because the finish of Sierra Leone’s brutal 11-year civil battle — greater than 20 years in the past — which left tens of 1000’s useless and destroyed the nation’s financial system.
Worldwide observers condemned a “lack of transparency” within the poll depend and Sierra Leone’s opposition occasion initially disputed the outcomes and boycotted the federal government.
5 months since Bio’s election victory, he continues to face criticism due to debilitating financial situations. Practically 60% of Sierra Leone’s inhabitants of greater than seven million are impoverished, and youth unemployment is among the many highest in West Africa.
The unrest in Sierra Leone comes after a collection of army coups which have dealt blows to democracy within the area. There have been eight army coups in West and Central Africa since 2020, together with in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Guinea.
