Sierra Leone’s President and ruling birthday party candidate Julius Maada Bio speaks to reporters after casting his vote for nationwide elections at a polling station in Freetown, Sierra Leone, June 24, 2023. REUTERS/Cooper Inveen/Record Photograph Achieve Licensing RightsUnidentified gunmen assault army armoury in Sierra LeoneGovernment says assault repelled, state of affairs beneath controlSporadic gunfire nonetheless heard within the capitalFREETOWN, Nov 26 (Reuters) – Sierra Leone has declared a national curfew after unidentified gunmen attacked an army barracks and tried to wreck into an armoury within the capital, Freetown, the federal government mentioned on Sunday.A central authority commentary mentioned that the safety forces had been in keep an eye on of the location.”Within the early hours of Sunday, some unidentified folks tried to wreck into the army armoury on the Wilberforce barracks. The were rebuffed,” data minister Chernor Bah mentioned within the commentary.”A national curfew has been declared with quick impact … We strongly advise electorate to stick indoors,” the commentary added.The political state of affairs within the West African country has remained annoying because the re-election of President Julius Maada Bio in a disputed election in June, the results of which used to be rejected through the primary opposition candidate.Anti-government protests that resulted within the loss of life of six cops and a minimum of 21 civilians remaining August had been an try to overthrow the federal government, President Maada Bio mentioned on the time.In a message at the president’s X social media account on Sunday, he mentioned there have been a breach of safety as some unidentified folks attacked the army armoury.”Because the mixed staff of our safety forces proceed to path out the remnants of the fleeing renegades, a national curfew has been declared and electorate are inspired to stick indoors,” the put up mentioned.There were 8 army coups in West and Central Africa since 2020, turning in repeated blows to democracy in a area that looked as if it would were making development in dropping its “coup belt” moniker.Sporadic gunfire may just nonetheless be heard within the empty streets of Freetown close to the barracks on Sunday, mentioned a Reuters reporter who encountered a gaggle of the renegade infantrymen.”We’re going to blank this society. We all know what we’re as much as. We don’t seem to be after any peculiar civilians who will have to cross about their standard industry,” mentioned some of the masked males in army fatigues prior to using away.Reporting through Umaru Fofana
Writing through Bate Felix
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