Attempting to outline the recent violent events in Sierra Leone, the minister confirms that the Sunday attacks were a strategic move as part of a coup attempt.

The government of Sierra Leone has declared the recent violent incident on Sunday as an attempted coup. According to the Information Minister, armed individuals attacked various institutions in the capital city in an effort to overthrow the government. The assailants targeted a military barracks and prisons, leading to the release of approximately 2,000 prisoners. Tragically, at least 19 people, including security forces and a civilian, lost their lives during the violence. The Information Minister described the incident as a failed attempted coup, stating that the intention was to illegally subvert and overthrow a democratically elected government. He further mentioned that although the attempt failed, many of the leaders involved are either in police custody or evading capture. The government is determined to apprehend them and ensure they face the full consequences of Sierra Leone's laws. This unrest adds to a string of recent military coups in various nations across West and Central Africa. Guinea, Sierra Leone's neighboring country, as well as Mali, Niger, and Chad, are among those currently under military rule. The political situation in Sierra Leone has been tense since President Julius Maada Bio's narrow re-election in June. The opposing candidate rejected the election result, which was also questioned by international partners such as the United States and the European Union. In August, a group of soldiers was arrested, accused of planning a coup against the president.