A national curfew has been imposed in Sierra Leone following an attack on a military barracks in the country’s capital, Freetown, by gunmen. The government claims they have repelled the attack and are in control of the situation. Information Minister Chernor Bah assured the public that the government and its state security forces are in control. Witnesses reported heavy gunfire and explosions in the capital early on Sunday morning, while a video shared on social media appeared to show plumes of smoke rising from the streets. Additional witnesses reported hearing gunfire outside a military facility in Freetown and close to a navy barrack in the Murray Town neighborhood.
Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio confirmed the security breach in a statement on his official X social media account, blaming a group of “renegades” for the attack.
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.…
— President Julius Maada Bio (@PresidentBio) November 26, 2023
He urged all citizens to unite to protect democracy in the West African country and urged all citizens to unite against the forces that wish to truncate their much-cherished stability.
The effort to “disturb constitutional order” in Sierra Leone was denounced by the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS. Since the re-election of President Bio in June, Sierra Leone has seen political violence and unrest since the end of its 11-year civil war. At first, Sierra Leone’s opposition party contesting the results boycotted the government, and foreign observers denounced a “lack of transparency” in the vote count. Since his electoral victory five months ago, Bio continues to face criticism due to debilitating economic conditions, with nearly 60% of the population impoverished and youth unemployment among the highest in West Africa.
