13 officials arrested for attempted coup in Sierra Leone

In Sierra Leone, 13 military officers who organized attacks on the main barracks and military prisons of the capital were arrested for the coup attempt. It was reported by the Associated Press.

Information Minister Chernor Bah said the attackers were trying to “overthrow the elected government of Sierra Leone.”

“Thirteen military officers are in custody and one more civilian. We call this incident a failed coup,” he said.

The acting chairman of the Sierra Leone Prison Service, Colonel Suleiman Masakua, said the attackers, who numbered several dozen, stormed two prisons in the city, including the central prison, where most of the more than 2,000 inmates were released.

According to the Minister of Information, currently more than 100 released prisoners have returned to prison.

As the Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant General Peter Lavagun, said, the attackers are hiding. He said the rebels entered and looted an arsenal of weapons from the country’s largest military barracks, located near the presidential villa in a heavily guarded part of the city. There are no CCTV cameras there, but checks are being carried out to confirm the number of weapons stolen. We found two dismantled vehicles with weapons and ammunition.

As is known, political tension in Sierra Leone has been observed since the re-election of Leone Julius Maada Bio to the presidency in a vote. The opposition says it is false.

Let’s remember that in August in Sierra Leone, the police arrested the suspects of treason and attempted coup.

It was also reported that in Sudan, since the start of armed clashes between army units and rapid reaction forces, more than 400 people have been killed.