Sierra Leone implements nationwide curfew following attack on military barracks

In a swift response to a brazen assault on the nation’s primary military installation, President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone has declared a nationwide curfew. Gunmen targeted the Wilberforce barracks in the capital, Freetown, prompting concerns about potential disorder amidst a regional uptick in coup attempts.

President Bio confirmed the attack on the military armory through a statement on X (formerly Twitter), assuring the public that security forces repelled the assailants, restoring calm. He urged citizens to remain indoors as security forces comb the area for any remaining renegades.

The Ministry of Information and Education emphasized that the government and security forces are in control of the situation. The attackers remain unidentified, and the motive behind the assault is yet to be disclosed.

Online videos depicting soldiers patrolling deserted streets and the echoes of gunshots have gone viral, portraying the tense atmosphere in Freetown.

ECOWAS, the West African regional economic bloc to which Sierra Leone belongs, characterized the incident as a plot to acquire arms and disrupt peace and constitutional order. The bloc reiterated its zero-tolerance stance against unconstitutional changes of government in a statement.

This event unfolds against a backdrop of heightened political tension in Sierra Leone. President Bio secured a controversial second term in June amid accusations of electoral manipulation. The country, still recovering from a brutal 11-year civil war over two decades ago, faces economic challenges, with nearly 60% of its over seven million population grappling with poverty and high youth unemployment rates.

As President Bio grapples with criticism over economic conditions, the aftermath of this military barracks attack poses additional challenges for the nation, raising concerns about stability and security in Sierra Leone.