Religious Leaders Say Sunday Security Breach in Sierra Leone’s Capital a Threat to Peace

ACI Africa received reports of sporadic gunfire and the general atmosphere of unrest in Freetown, even as the government said it had arrested the Sunday morning security breach in the city.

Media reports indicate that the Sunday attack in the military barracks left 13 dead in the ranks of the army loyal to the government.

Moments after the Sunday attack, the Sierra Leonean government declared a nationwide curfew, advising the citizens to stay at home.

The Sierra Leonean government updated its directive on an indefinite curfew on Monday, advising the citizens to instead adhere to 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew hours.

The new curfew hours, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah said, “will be in effect until further notice.”

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However, the curfew has reportedly been lifted partially in some parts of Freetown as daily life began to resume on Monday amid heavy security presence.

In the November 27 IRCSL statement, the religious leaders in Sierra Leone expressed optimism that the masterminds of the Sunday security breach in the country’s capital would brought to book.

“In the meantime, the Inter-Religious Council assures the Government and people of Sierra Leone of their fervent prayers for peace and stability in our country,” they said.

There has been a reported rise in military coups in West Africa, with the latest incidents having been reported in Burkina Faso, in Niger, and in Sierra Leone’s neighbor Guinea.

In August, a number of soldiers in Sierra Leone were arrested and accused of plotting to overthrow President Bio.