The government of Sierra Leone has told the nation that Sunday’s crazed and heavy shooting was an attempt to overthrow the regime of President Maada Bio.
When the shooting which lasted all night subsided later last Sunday, the government carefully avoided describing it as a coup attempt. They described it in various public statements as a security breach. Yesterday, the SLPP government moved a stage up and said it was a coup attempt. But many Sierra Leoneans on social media continue to insist that it was a stagemanaged coup by President Maada Bio to abort the forthcoming investigations into the rigged June 24 elections and fears within government that Resolutions 3 and 4 in the communique signed recently by both the ruling SLPP and opposition APC, if fully implemented, will not only lead to early elections but will implicate the government for extrajudicial killings of political prisoners , whose release is part of the conditions for the mediated peace between the SLPP and the
——–
Special Edition
Ministry of Information and Civic Education’s Press Conference
28th November 2023
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
♦In response to the 26th November 2023 failed attempted coup, Ecowas, the US, EU, and Commonwealth outrightly condemned the unfortunate event on the above-mentioned date and called for a speedy investigation to bring the perpetrators to book.
♦ Information and Civic Education Minister Chernor Bah thanked citizens for their level of patriotism in obeying law and order. He called on citizens to always check on the Ministry for factual information.
♦ The Minister disclosed that the State Security has declared the Sunday event as a failed attempted coup. The event met the threshold of a coup attempt according to the security sector.
♦ Minister Chernor Bah apologized on behalf of the security forces for placing some names on the wanted list that were not supposed to be on the list. The official updated list can be found on the Ministry’s Facebook page.
♦ The Inspector General of Sierra Leone Police William Fayia Sellu informed the general public that, they are investigating a failed attempted coup. He continues to assure the public that the security of the country is on top of the situation.
♦ Minister Chernor Bah provided further information on the number of casualties. He said 14 RSLAF officers died, 1 SLP officer died, 1 correctional officer died and 3 assailants were killed. He further revealed that 13 military officials are in custody and 1 civilian in relation to the November 26th attempted coup.
♦The Chief of Defense Staff RSLAF Lieutenant General Peter Lavahun confirmed that Leather Boot lost his life the moment he was arrested in the Military facility as he suffered gunshots in his feet. He said some of the assailants are on the run and called on citizens to provide any valuable information that would lead to their arrest. Two vehicles were retrieved from the assailants around Orugu and Allen Town.
♦Acting Director General Sierra Leone Correctional Center Colonel Sheikh Sulaiman Massaquoi said Pademba Road and Special Court Prison were breached and inmates escaped. He however said few of the escaped inmates have turned themselves in. He said they are working to ensure they get back the inmates to the centers.
♦The assailants include serving Military men and former military and police officers. The Investigation is ongoing and more names are coming up.
♦ Information and Civic Education Minister Chernor Bah called on citizens to go about their normal business and continue to be law-abiding. Minister Bah said there is a bounty for those on the wanted list and the escaped inmates. Nle50,000 for the assailants and Nle10,000 for inmates.
©MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND CIVIC EDUCATION
