Coup D’état Manhunt: 57 Detained
By: Christian Conteh
In the aftermath of the November 26 coup attempt, the Sierra Leonean government took an assertive stance, revealing a surge in arrests, totalling 43 over the past weekend. This recent wave of detentions amplifies the tally to 57, with the majority implicated as military personnel, announced Yusuf Keketoma Sandi, the deputy minister in charge of Information on Monday.
The demographic of those apprehended comprises 37 soldiers, 10 civilians, four former army personnel, five active police officers and a retired officer, as divulged by Mr. Sandi. Despite this burgeoning number, the identities of the coup’s orchestrators remain undisclosed, shrouded in secrecy.
Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio vowed a measured response, emphasizing adherence to the law in addressing the aftermath of the unsettling events. The incursion, occurring in the early hours of November 26, witnessed assailants targeting a military arsenal, two barracks, prisons, and police stations. The clashes with security forces culminated in a tragic toll, claiming the lives of 21 individuals, including 14 soldiers, a police officer, a prison guard, a security personnel, a woman, and three assailants, as reported by Information Minister Chernor Bah.
This turbulent incident echoes a broader trend in West Africa, where coups have become distressingly recurrent since 2020, witnessing upheavals in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Guinea. This escalation in political instability manifested further as Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embalo flagged concerns, denouncing an “attempted coup d’état” following clashes between security units during the night from Thursday to Friday.
As Sierra Leone grapples with the aftermath, the swift crackdown on alleged perpetrators mirrors the broader regional strife, highlighting a simmering tension in West Africa’s political landscape.
