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Clashes that shook Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown on Sunday left 13 lifeless within the ranks of the military loyal to the federal government, and have been orchestrated by energetic and retired troopers, the military spokesperson stated Monday.
“Now we have launched a manhunt for all those that have been concerned within the violent assault, amongst them present and retired serving troopers,” Colonel Issa Bangura informed reporters.
Every day life started to renew amid a heavy safety presence in Freetown on Monday, as the federal government partially lifted a curfew imposed after the clashes erupted within the metropolis.
Bangura informed AFP eight extra troopers had been critically injured within the clashes as they defended their barracks.
Greater than 24 hours after the incident, authorities had nonetheless to provide a full toll after armed assailants stormed a army armoury and several other prisons, sparking battles with safety forces that lasted for hours.
The central jail and different penitentiaries have been stormed and dozens of inmates appeared to have escaped.
Movies posted on social media appeared to point out males in uniform underneath arrest within the again or beside a army pick-up truck.
There in the meantime remained no indication of who had been accountable or relating to their motives.
“Sure members of the army should not loyal in the direction of the federal government or the president, regardless of taking the oath,” stated Bangura.
“We need to restore regulation and order as shortly as attainable,” he pressured.
President Julius Maada Bio stated late Sunday that calm had been restored after what he described as an try to undermine peace and stability and vowed these chargeable for the clashes can be held accountable.
He stated most of these behind the clashes had been arrested.
– Stocking up –
With Freetown positioned underneath excessive safety residents regularly resumed their every day actions.
Some outlets and banks re-opened and site visitors resumed, an AFP correspondent stated.
Faculties, nonetheless, remained closed.
Many individuals in Sierra Leone, similar to 25-year-old mom Mariama Kamara, rushed to top off on provides the place they may.
“I’m searching for meals for the household — most outlets are closed,” she informed AFP.
I count on the federal government to guard us. We wish peace however many individuals concern returning to going about their enterprise,” she added.
Checkpoints have been arrange on principal highways, with members of the safety forces looking autos. Safety was strengthened at official buildings and prisons.
A curfew shall be imposed from 9:00 pm (2100 GMT) to six:00 am till additional discover, the Data ministry introduced, lifting a daytime curfew beforehand imposed.
“Whereas we encourage residents to return to their regular actions… we proceed to induce everybody to stay calm however vigilant, and to report any suspicious or uncommon exercise to the closest police station”, the data ministry stated in an announcement in a single day.
The West African nation lately skilled political disaster after elections in June.
The newest unrest has sparked fears of one other coup in West Africa, the place Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Guinea have all skilled putsches since 2020.
President Bio himself led a coup within the Nineties earlier than handing over energy and returning to politics as a civilian years later.
– American assist –
Regional bloc ECOWAS described Sunday’s occasions as an try to “disrupt peace and constitutional order”, language generally used for political coups.
Sierra Leone’s varied companions known as for “constitutional order” to be revered.
Former president Ernest Bai Koromo of the opposition All Folks’s Congress (APC) celebration stated in an announcement that one of many troopers assigned to protect him had been shot lifeless at shut vary and that one other had been kidnapped.
He stated he strongly condemned Sunday’s assaults and known as for calm and order.
The US embassy stated it “strongly helps President Bio in his name for nationwide unity”, in a message posted on social media.
Bio was in June re-elected to a second time period as president, profitable 56.17 p.c of the vote, in keeping with the outcomes printed by the electoral fee.
The primary opposition celebration disputes the outcomes of the presidential election, in addition to legislative and native elections in June.
A political disaster ensued till an settlement was reached in October following mediation by the Commonwealth, the African Union and ECOWAS.
sb-lal/prc-cw
Initially printed as Curfew partially lifted in SLeone capital after clashes killed 13 troopers
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