Sierra Leonean police claim to have arrested “several” people, including army officers, who were planning violent attacks a year after the deadly riots in August 2022 that left over 30 people dead.
“The security sector has been following up intelligence about the activities of certain individuals, including senior army officers, working to undermine the peace and tranquility of the state,” the police said in a statement on August 1.
“In this respect, several arrests have been made”, he continues. He adds that the suspects were planning to use the peaceful demonstrations scheduled for next week “as a pretext to unleash violent attacks against State institutions and peaceful citizens”. Inflation and exasperation with the government had led to riots on August 10, 2022, in which 27 civilians and six police officers were killed.
Amnesty International said it had collected testimonies alleging “excessive use of force” and had condemned Internet restrictions.
Sierra Leone, a small West African state among the least developed in the world, held general elections on June 24. President Julius Maada Bio was re-elected for a second term in the first round, according to official results that the opposition is contesting.
International observers pointed to “statistical inconsistencies” and condemned a “lack of transparency” in the post-vote vote count. The opposition has refused to participate in any position of governance, whether local or national, and has decided to boycott Parliament.