Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, was engulfed in chaos on Sunday as a violent clash led to the tragic deaths of 13 government-affiliated soldiers, confirmed by Colonel Issa Bangura, the army spokesperson, during a press briefing on Monday.
Colonel Bangura revealed an ongoing search operation for both active and retired soldiers allegedly involved in the turbulent events. An anonymous forensic official disclosed a more comprehensive toll, stating that four attackers and two civilians lost their lives, raising the casualties to 19 in total.
Following the fierce clashes that persisted for hours, Freetown cautiously returned to its daily routines on Monday, albeit under tightened security measures after a partial curfew was lifted. The confrontations witnessed armed assailants raiding a military armory and multiple prisons, facilitating a significant number of inmate escapes.
While videos circulated on social media showed individuals in military attire detained near military vehicles, the motives behind the clashes and the identities of the instigators remained undisclosed.
Colonel Bangura expressed apprehension over certain military personnel exhibiting disloyalty to the government, despite their sworn allegiance.
President Julius Maada Bio assured the nation of calm and stability, condemning the attempt to disrupt peace and affirming the capture of most individuals involved in the violent confrontations.
The president’s office released images depicting his meetings with high-ranking delegations from Ecowas and Nigeria, conveying messages of solidarity during these challenging times.
Despite the increased security presence in Freetown, schools remained closed while select shops and banks cautiously reopened. A nightly curfew from 9:00 pm to 6:00 am was reinstated, encouraging citizens to resume normal activities while remaining vigilant and reporting suspicious activities to law enforcement.
This recent unrest follows a political crisis that emerged after the June elections and was recently addressed through mediation by international entities like the Commonwealth, African Union, and Ecowas.
