Sierra Leonean police have arrested several individuals, including senior military personnel, who were allegedly planning violent attacks. This development comes one year after the deadly riots that occurred on August 10 last year, which resulted in the death of over 30 people.
According to a statement received released on Monday evening, the security sector had been closely monitoring the activities of certain individuals, including senior military officers, suspected of attempting to disrupt the state’s peace and tranquility. The arrested suspects had allegedly planned to exploit the upcoming peaceful protests as a pretext to unleash violent attacks on state institutions and civilians.
The August 2022 riots were triggered by inflation and frustration with the government, leading to the loss of 27 civilian lives and six police officers. Amnesty International had collected testimony pointing to the “excessive use of force” during the unrest and had criticized internet restrictions imposed during the period.
Sierra Leone held its general elections on June 24, resulting in the re-election of President Julius Maada Bio for a second term. The opposition All People’s Congress (APC) contested the official results, while observers from outside the small West African country cited “statistical inconsistencies” and a “lack of transparency” in the vote-counting process. APC leaders accused Sierra Leone’s military of shooting live ammunition and tear gas into their headquarters the day after the presidential elections.
The alleged attempted coup in Sierra Leone, which has a long history of civil war and military coups, is the latest incident in the mounting unrest in the region.
The development comes less than a week after the Niger coup and the subsequent warning from the military governments of Burkina Faso and Mali, who stated that any military intervention against the coup leaders in Niger would be considered a “declaration of war” against their respective nations.
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