ECOWAS solidarity mission visits Sierra Leone after 'unrest' in capital (By Paul Ejime)

Freetown, Sierra Leone (PANA) - A solidarity and fact-finding Mission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has met in Freetown with President Julius Maada Bio over the apparent attempted military coup in Sierra Leone on Sunday.

The delegation, comprising the ECOWAS Commission’s President Omar Alieu Toure, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Christopher Musa and the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Gen. Emmanuel Udiandeye, had discussions at the State House on Monday with President Bio, accompanied by some officials of his government.

Diplomatic sources said the delegation delivered a goodwill message from the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to President Bio and the government and people of Sierra Leone, over the attack by assailants on the Wilberforce Barracks, near the Presidential Lodge.

President Bio and Sierra Leone’s Information and Civic Education Minister Hernor Bah said some of the attackers had been arrested, while joint security forces were after the escapees.

The police have declared 34 people wanted in what the government calls a coup attempt.

No official casualty figures were given, but independent sources said there were “several deaths” from the exchange of gun fires, which lasted for several hours. Some media reports say 20 people died, 13 of them servicemen loyal to the government. 

Some prisoners were released from the country’s Central Pademba Prison in the state capital Freetown. A night time curfew is in force.

Sierra Leone’s immediate past President Ernest Bai Koroma said in a statement that one of his official security guards was shot and killed, and another abducted by unknown gunmen.

In its initial statement on Sunday, ECOWAS expressed deep concern and condemned the latest armed attacks.

President Bio was said to have expressed appreciation to ECOWAS and Nigeria for the solidarity visit, reiterating his commitment to democracy in Sierra Leone, which is still recovering from a devastating 11-year civil war that ended in 2002.

The Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) declared President Bio of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) re-elected with 56.17% vote in the June polls.

But the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) rejected the ECSL results claiming that the vote was marred by irregularities.

Some civil society organisations as well as local and international election observation Missions also said the electoral process, especially the result management, lacked transparency.

The post-election disaffection has combined with socio-economic hardship to raise political tensions amid fears that Sierra Leone could relapse into conflict unless urgent remedial steps were taken.

-0- PANA PR/MA 28Nov2023