At approximately 2357 EST, gunshots rang out in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Over the next three hours various eyewitness and local media outlets reported that an armed group of at least 30 unidentified gunmen attempted to break into the military barracks and army base in the Wilberforce area of Sierra Leone. These militants also attempted to gain control of the Presidential Lodge that is near the barracks. RPG and automatic gunfire prompted at least 300 civilians to evacuate the immediate area as security forces and the gunmen exchanged fire for more than three hours.
The first government announcement did not come until 0157 EST, when the Ministry of Information and Public Education announced a nationwide curfew:
By 0311 EST, embattled Sierra Leone President Bio made a public announcement on his Twitter claiming that the gunmen were rebuffed:
Fellow Sierra Leoneans,
I bring you greetings from the Presidential Lodge in Freetown.
In the early hours of this morning, there was a breach of security at the Military Barracks at Wilberforce in Freetown, as some unidentified individuals attacked the military armoury.…
— President Julius Maada Bio (@PresidentBio) November 26, 2023
However, by 0330 EST, gunfire had shifted to the Pademba Road Prison where another group of gunmen were springing prisoners. Local media claimed that a number of prisoners were able to escape and that they had been provided arms by the original gunmen. Of the escaped prisoners, Sierra Leone’s musician King Boss LA is said to have been included. He was arrested on June 11th, 2022 for suspicion of robbery and violence.
Sierra Leone's popular musician King Boss LA, takes advantage of the Pademba Road prison break. He was spotted walking freely in the street of Freetown. pic.twitter.com/dSdJvCgkmA
— Abdulai AKD Dumbuya (@AkdAbdulai) November 26, 2023
Inside #SierraLeone biggest prison ??? #WeNeedNo #War in #SierraLeone ?? pic.twitter.com/MedDKujhsg
— House Of Happiness Sierra Leone (@HOHSIERRALEONE) November 26, 2023
By 0500 EST local media claimed that a group of gunmen took over the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation building in Freetown. As of this publication, gunfire is still being reported near Aberdeen Road and the Hill area of Freetown. However, the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority has urged all air carriers to reschedule flights to Freetown after the curfew was lifted in the last hour.
International condemnation poured in from the United Kingdom, the U.S. Embassy in Sierra Leone, and the Economic Community of Western African States.
We condemn in the strongest possible terms the attempted overnight forceful seizure of Wilberforce Barracks and armory. Such actions have no justification. We urge full cooperation with government security forces’ ongoing operation to detain those responsible and strongly…
— USEmbassyFreetown (@USEmbFreetown) November 26, 2023
The UK strongly condemns the violence in Freetown this morning. We are monitoring the situation closely.
British Nationals in Sierra Leone should abide by the current nationwide curfew, and our consular staff are available 24/7 to provide support.
— UK in Sierra Leone ???? (@UKinSierraLeone) November 26, 2023
ECOWAS CONDEMNS THE DISTURBANCES IN FREETOWN pic.twitter.com/uJeV39kaxk
— Ecowas – Cedeao (@ecowas_cedeao) November 26, 2023
The situation seems to have bottomed out.
