BREAKING: Nationwide Curfew Declared With Strong Reason

BREAKING: Nationwide Curfew Declared With Strong Reason

On Sunday, an assault targeted a military arsenal in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, prompting the government to declare an immediate national curfew.

Authorities stated that those trying to breach the armoury at a significant army barracks were repelled, but as a precaution, the public was urged to remain indoors.

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Reports from witnesses in the Wilberforce district, where the armoury is situated along with several embassies, indicated the sounds of gunfire and explosions. Additionally, exchanges of fire were reported near a barracks in the Murray Town district, housing the navy, and outside another military facility in Freetown. Social media posts featured audio recordings of automatic weapons fire and explosions.

As a result of the situation, the streets of the capital were reported to be deserted.

“The public is assured that the government and our state security forces are in control,” Information Minister Chernor Bah wrote in a “public notice”.

“To enable the security forces to continue the process of apprehending the suspects, a nationwide curfew is declared with immediate effect across the country,” the minister said.

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No information was provided regarding the identity or motives of the individuals responsible for the attack.

Sierra Leone, located in West Africa and primarily English-speaking, has been grappling with a political crisis stemming from the presidential and general elections held in June of this year.

The West African region has witnessed a series of military coups and attempted coups since August 2020. Countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Guinea— which shares a border with Sierra Leone—have all experienced shifts in military control.

President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone reassured the public that tranquility had been restored in the capital, emphasizing the importance of people staying indoors.

“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,” he posted on X, formerly Twitter.

“Unidentified individuals attacked the military armoury. However, they were repelled by our gallant Security Forces and calm has been restored,” said Bio.

“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,” Bio said.

He added that the government would “continue to protect the peace and security of Sierra Leone against the forces that wish to truncate our much-cherished stability” and said it was “resolute in our determination to protect democracy in Sierra Leone.”

Bio, initially elected in 2018, secured re-election in June with 56.17 percent of the vote, just surpassing the 55 percent threshold required to avoid a run-off.

International observers criticized the electoral process for inconsistencies and a lack of transparency in the vote count, highlighting instances of violence and intimidation.

The primary opposition party, All People’s Congress (APC), contested the outcomes of the presidential, legislative, and local elections on June 24, leading to a boycott of all government levels. However, an agreement was reached in October between the APC and the government, facilitated by the Commonwealth, the African Union, and the West African bloc ECOWAS.

In the accord, the APC committed to ending its boycott and resuming participation in government. In return, the government agreed to cease detentions and halt what the APC claimed were politically motivated court cases.

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