Sierra Leone declares nationwide curfew after attack on barracks

5A military armoury in Sierra Leone's capital Freetown came under attack on Sunday, the government announced, as it imposed an immediate national curfew.

The government said those attempting to break into the armoury had been repelled. Witnesses told AFP they heard gunshots and explosions in the city's Wilberforce district.

The information ministry said in a statement that it assured the public that "the government and our state security forces are in control".

"To enable the security forces to continue the process of apprehending the suspects, a nationwide curfew is declared with immediate effect across the country," the ministry said.

No further details were given on the alleged perpetrators of the attack or their motives.

Sierra Leone, an English-speaking country in West Africa, has been going through a political crisis following presidential and general elections in June this year.

Series of West Africa coups

West Africa has seen a series of military coups and attempted coups since August 2020.

Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Guinea, which shares a border with Sierra Leone, have all fallen under military control.

Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio also offered assurances that calm had been returned to the capital, urging people to stay indoors.

"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," he posted on X, formerly Twitter.

"Unidentified individuals attacked the military armoury. However, they were repelled by our gallant Security Forces and calm has been restored," said Bio.

"As the combined team of our Security Forces continue to route out the remnant of the fleeing renegades, a nationwide curfew has been declared and citizens are encouraged to stay indoors," Bio said.

He added that the government would "continue to protect the peace and security of Sierra Leone against the forces that wish to truncate our much-cherished stability" and said it was "resolute in our determination to protect democracy in Sierra Leone."

Bio, who was first elected in 2018, was re-elected in June with 56.17 percent of the vote -- just over the 55 percent needed to avoid a run-off.

International observers condemned inconsistencies and a lack of transparency in the count, as well as acts of violence and intimidation.

The main opposition All People's Congress (APC) party disputed the results of the presidential, legislative and local elections on June 24 and has boycotted all levels of government.

The APC and the government signed an agreement in October following talks mediated by the Commonwealth, the African Union and the West African bloc ECOWAS.

The APC agreed to end its boycott and begin participating in government in exchange for an end to detentions and court cases it said were politically motivated.

Story by AFP