Sierra Leone Imposes Curfew After Armed Men Storm Military Site
Six member states are currently suspended because of unconstitutional changes overthrowing civilian rulers.
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone-Sierra Leone's government has instituted an immediate nationwide curfew after armed men broke into a barracks in the capital early Sunday, opening fire and freeing inmates, writes Naome Chisala.
The attack targeted the main military armoury and prison at Wilberforce Barracks, located near the presidential state house in downtown Freetown.
Gunshots first rang out around the fortress-like compound guarding sensitive government sites at roughly 2 a.m.
Information Minister Chernor Bah said in a statement that “unidentified individuals" had sought to penetrate the armoury but were repelled.
He said state security forces remained in control but that an open-ended curfew was being imposed so forces could hunt down the assailants.
President Julius Maada Bio later told state broadcaster SLBC that military commanders had quelled the situation and launched a pursuit for the unidentified gunmen.
He provided no further details about casualties or damage from the unrest.
While the government indicated the attackers did not reach their arms target, the group managed to spring several inmates in the barracks detention centre before fleeing.
Local newspaper reports suggested a soldier may have led the raid, though authorities have yet to confirm details regarding the origins of the raid or the escapees.
Bio was elected to a second term earlier this year after surviving a coup attempt just two months into his first tenure as leader of the country, still recovering from the civil war in the 1990s.
Experts fear West Africa is facing an erosion of democratic norms amid a string of coups.
The attack comes the same weekend as the regional bloc ECOWAS holds an annual summit to discuss strengthening governance frameworks against power grabs.
Six member states are currently suspended because of unconstitutional changes overthrowing civilian rulers.