A nationwide curfew has been declared in Sierra Leone after armed men attempted to gain access to the armoury of a military barrack of the capital Freetown. The ministry of information claims the situation is under control but eyewitnesses say the unrest is ongoing.
In June president Julius Maada Bio was re-elected after narrowly missing a run-off. In August, a number of people, including some high ranking soldiers were arrested and accused of plotting a coup against the president. Over the past three years a number of countries in West and central Africa have staged coups, including neighbouring Guinea which is currently under military rule.
Official Statement from the X (Twitter) handle of the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone šøš±
Fellow Sierra Leoneans,
I bring you greetings from the Presidential Lodge in Freetown.
In the early hours of this morning, there was a breach of security at the Military Barracks at Wilberforce in Freetown, as some unidentified individuals attacked the military armoury.
However, they were repelled by our gallant Security Forces and calm has been restored.
As the combined team of our Security Forces continue to route out the remnant of the fleeing renegades, a nationwide curfew has been declared and citizens are encouraged to stay indoors.
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.
We remain resolute in our determination to protect democracy in Sierra Leone and I urge all Sierra Leoneans to unite towards this collective responsibility.
Long Live The Republic of Sierra Leone. šøš±
Peoplesmind
