The attacks last weekend in Sierra Leone were part of a failed coup attempt. This came during a press conference held by the authorities on Tuesday. The attacks that took place in the capital, Freetown, resulted in the deaths of 20 people and about 1,890 prisoners were able to escape.
According to Minister Chernor Bah and Army Commander Patrick Lafahon, the bodyguards of former President Ernest Bai Koroma were mainly involved in the attacks. An investigation is underway into whether Bai Koroma himself was involved.
Bai Koroma was the elected president of the country from 2007 to 2018. He was a reformist and popular, but the law prevented him from running for a third time in the 2018 presidential elections.
Julius Maada Wonnie Bio is now the President of Sierra Leone. He was re-elected in June this year with 56% of the vote, according to official figures. But the opposition party and Western observers believe fraud was committed. Since then, tensions have escalated in the West African country.
After attacks occurred in several places in Freetown, the city was closed. Twenty people were killed in the attacks. The prison in the center of the capital was also targeted. About 1,890 prisoners managed to escape.
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Sierra Leone in lockdown na aanval door gewapende mannen in hoofdstad
