Government Asserts Full Control After Armed Attack Triggers Nationwide Curfew
Following an armed conflict in the capital that prompted the government to impose a nationwide curfew, numerous leaders involved in the attack have been apprehended, according to Sierra Leone’s president.
President Julius Maada Bio reported on national television that security operations and investigations are ongoing after the government claimed an offensive on a military armoury in Freetown. The Government stated that it repelled the attack and was in control, amid ongoing post-election unrest.
“The government is in firm control of the security situation in Freetown, the attackers are retreating,” information minister Chernor Bah told the AFP news agency. Sierra Leone’s civil aviation authority urged airlines to reschedule flights due to the situation.
Although the capital was slowly returning to normalcy as of Sunday evening, checkpoints remained heavily guarded by security forces. The information minister stated that those responsible for the attack would face the full force of the law.
Videos posted on social media appeared to show men in uniform under arrest, while witnesses reported gunshots and explosions in various districts across Freetown.
West Africa’s regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), condemned the attempt to “disturb constitutional order” in Sierra Leone. The nation has faced increasing unrest since the re-election of President Bio in June, amidst a political scene marred by allegations of electoral fraud and ongoing economic stagnation. Sierra Leone’s history of civil war and political instability serves as a backdrop to the modern-day challenges faced by the country. The arrest of military coups in neighboring West and Central African countries has further heightened tensions in the region.
