Sierra Leone

ECOWAS Sending 1,200 troops to Sierra Leone

Africa /

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced that it will send 1,200 troops to Sierra Leone. According to a written statement by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the ECOWAS Chairperson Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Tinubu met with the chiefs of staff of member countries in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja. Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff Christopher Musa stated during the meeting that ECOWAS has decided to deploy 1,200 troops to Sierra Leone and that the member countries have pledged to support this effort. Coup Attempt in Sierra Leone On November 26, 2023, a group attacked an armory at the Wilberforce Barracks in Freetown, followed by an assault on a nearby prison. In the prison attack, 2,200 inmates escaped, leading to a partial curfew being imposed across the country. Military spokesperson Issa Bangura reported that in the attack on the Wilberforce Barracks, 19 people, including 13 soldiers and one police officer, lost their lives, and 8 others were injured. Sierra Leone’s Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor A. Bah, described the attacks on the barracks and the prison as a “coup attempt.” Several individuals, including military personnel and police officers, have been detained in connection with the coup attempt. Among the suspects, 12, including a bodyguard of former President Ernest Bai Koroma, have been charged with “treason.” Koroma traveled to Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, after Sierra Leone’s High Court permitted him to go abroad for medical treatment.

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Sierra Leone court finds 11 involved in alleged coup guilty

Africa /

In Sierra Leone, a court has delivered verdicts against 11 individuals charged with treason and related offenses in connection with what authorities termed an attempted coup. The leader of the group, Amadu Koita Makalo, received a staggering sentence of 182 years in prison for charges including treason, murder, and attempted murder, according to Moses Lamin Kamara, spokesperson for the judiciary. The incident in November involved a group of gunmen who raided the country’s armory and a prison, resulting in the release of over 2,000 inmates and the tragic deaths of 18 security personnel. Authorities arrested approximately 80 suspects, with a dozen formally charged in January. Among those charged was former president Ernest Bai Koroma, who was later granted medical leave. Amadu Koita Makalo, formerly a bodyguard of Koroma and a vocal critic of current President Julius Maada Bio on social media, was identified as the mastermind behind the attack. Alongside Makalo, the other 10 defendants were also found guilty of treason and murder, receiving sentences ranging from 30 to 112 years in prison. Ernest Bai Koroma, although officially retired from active politics, continues to wield influence within his political party. Many of those implicated in the attack were reportedly former associates of the ex-president, as noted by Information Minister Chernor Bah. Sierra Leone has experienced heightened political tensions since President Bio’s reelection last year, which the opposition alleged was marred by electoral fraud. In the aftermath of Bio’s reelection, authorities apprehended several individuals, including senior military officers, who were purportedly planning protests aimed at destabilizing peace in the country. The nation remains in the process of recovery from a devastating 11-year civil war that concluded over two decades ago. Sierra Leone, with a population of 8 million, ranks among the world’s poorest nations. Nearby Guinea has also been grappling with political instability following a coup in 2021, contributing to regional concerns. The developments underscore ongoing challenges in governance and stability across West Africa, amid efforts to address socio-economic disparities and promote lasting peace.

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