What Happened:
The Sierra Leone government has announced that several people, including senior military leadership, have been arrested in an alleged plot to “unleash violent attacks against state institutions and peaceful citizens.”
The Statement:
The Sierra Leone government has announced that “certain individuals, including senior military officers” were arrested after authorities discovered a plot to undermine the peace and tranquility of the state and unleash violence on peaceful citizens of Sierra Leone.”
The statement added that “Preliminary investigations have revealed that these individuals planned to use purported peaceful protests between 7th to 10th August 2023, as a guise to unleash violent attacks against state institutions and peaceful citizens.”
“The security sector assures the public that the country remains peaceful and that the situation is fully under control. The public is therefore urged to remain calm and go about their normal business. We encourage members of the public to report any suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities,” the statement concluded.
Why it matters:
The alleged plot comes at the heals of last week’s coup in Niger that saw the ousting of President Mohamed Bazoum by Nigerien military forces. In recent years, West Africa has seen a wave of coups that have overthrown governments in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has threatened military intervention if Bazoum is not restored as president.
