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Reuters

Sierra Leone has declared a nationwide curfew after unidentified gunmen attacked a military barracks and attempted to break into an armoury in the capital, Freetown, the government said on Sunday.
A government statement said security forces were in control of the situation.
“In the early hours of Sunday, some unidentified individuals attempted to break into the military armoury at the Wilberforce barracks. They have been rebuffed,” information minister Chernor Bah said.
“A nationwide curfew has been declared with immediate effect … We strongly advise citizens to stay indoors,” the statement added.

A senior official who requested anonymity said the central prison in Freetown was open, and some inmates had escaped. The prison, designed to hold 324 inmates, held over 2,000 in 2019, according to a US State Department report.
It was not clear how many had broken out of the facility, but videos shared on social media showed several people fleeing from the area of the prison, while gun shots could be heard in the background.
Reuters has not authenticated the videos.
The political situation in the West African nation has remained tense since the re-election of President Julius Maada Bio in a disputed election in June, the result of which was rejected by the main opposition candidate.

Anti-government protests that resulted in the death of six police officers and at least 21 civilians last August were an attempt to overthrow the government, President Maada Bio said at the time.
In a message on the president’s X social media account on Sunday, he said there had been a breach of security as some unidentified individuals attacked the military armoury.
“As the combined team of our security forces continue to route out the remnants of the fleeing renegades, a nationwide curfew has been declared and citizens are encouraged to stay indoors,” the post said.
There have been eight military coups in West and Central Africa since 2020, delivering repeated blows to democracy in a region.
African coups make life difficult for China’s belt and road projects
The Economic Community of West African States condemned what it called an attempt by certain individuals to “acquire arms and disturb constitutional order” in Sierra Leone. The US embassy in Freetown said in a statement such actions were not justified.
Sporadic gunfire could still be heard in the empty streets of Freetown near the barracks on Sunday, said a Reuters reporter who encountered a group of the renegade soldiers.
“We’ll clean this society. We know what we are up to. We are not after any ordinary civilians who should go about their normal business,” said one of the masked men in military fatigues before driving away.
Sierra Leone’s civil aviation authority on Sunday urged airlines reschedule flights after a nationwide curfew imposed by the government in response to an attack on a military barracks by unidentified gunmen.
The aviation authority said in a statement that passengers should be placed on the next available flights after the curfew is lifted. It added that the country’s airspace remains open.


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Sierra Leone declares nationwide curfew after attack on barracks: ‘we’ll clean this society’

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Two men walk along an empty road in Freetown. Photo: AFP

Sierra Leone’s President and ruling party candidate Julius Maada Bio speaks to journalists after casting his vote for national elections at a polling station in Freetown on June 24. Photo: Reuters

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Kibungo Referral Hospital is one of two hospitals in Rwanda that Chinese doctors are dispatched to. Photo: Ryan Chiong

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Marie Claire, 35, teaches Chinese penmanship. She completed her undergraduate education at Tianjin University on a Confucius Institute scholarship. Photo: Handout 

Simplified Chinese characters on a chalkboard. Chinese is gaining prominence in Rwanda as a practical language that can boost business skills. Photo: Shutterstock

A view of the business district of Rwandan capital Kigali. Some Rwandans entering the workforce believe fluency in Chinese will boost their employability. Photo: Shutterstock 

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World

Some inmates escaped from the central prison in capital city Freetown, and sporadic gunfire was still heard in the city’s empty streets near the barracks on Sunday
Tensions in Sierra Leone have remained high since the re-election of President Julius Maada Bio in a disputed election in June


Tensions in Sierra Leone have remained high since the re-election of President Julius Maada Bio in a disputed election in June.


War and conflict

Social media

Sierra Leone