Sierra Leone Roundup: Coup attempt, curfew, murders

Attempted Coup

A group of unknown soldiers and police officers broke into Sierra Leone’s main ammunition stores at the Wilberforce Barracks on November 26, 2023. The Sierra Leone Telegraph reports that gunshots were fired near the presidential Lodge. The unidentified men then went to Pademba Road prisons where they freed some prisoners who had been locked up without trial.

Sports and basketball

The son of a former prominent football and sports promoter, Sullay Hijazi is contesting to become the President of the Sierra Leone Basketball Federation, local news outlet Globaltimes has reported. The businessman and sports enthusiast sees this as a step in the right direction.

Beauty Pageants

Sierra Leone’s Daisy Princess Abdulai has been crowned 2023 Miss Sierra Leone, according to local news outlet Awoko Newspaper. Her win puts her in the position to represent Sierra Leone on the international stage for the Miss World Pageant. Her coronation took place at the Bintumani Conference Centre on September 21st, 2023.

Murders

Former President, Ernest Bai Koroma has condemned the sickening and violent events that led to the killing of his military guard, Corporal Eddie Conteh. Corporal Conteh was killed at point-blank range at the former President’s Goderich residence in Freetown. The former President has since expressed profound disappointment about the resurgence of insecurity within the nation, local news outlet Cocorioko reports.

Curfew

Sierra Leonean authorities have lifted the curfew that was declared on November 26, 2023, after unidentified men attacked key military armouries and barracks in the country. This was declared by President Julius Maada Bio. The information ministry said that major detention centres were attacked with some prisoners released, the Sierra Leone government website, statehouse.gov.sl reported. The assailants were however pushed out to the outskirts of the city by the country’s security service.