Sierra Leonean police have reported that they arrested “several” individuals, including army officers, who were planning violent attacks one year after the deadly riots in August 2022, which resulted in over 30 deaths.
In a statement, the Sierra Leonean police announced on July 31st that they had arrested “several” individuals, including army officers, suspected of plotting an “attack against state institutions” in the country, where presidential and legislative elections were held on June 24th. “Preliminary investigations have revealed that these individuals were planning to take advantage of the peaceful protests scheduled between August 7th and 10th to launch violent attacks against state institutions and peaceful citizens,” the statement said, as published on social media.
The statement further added that the suspects planned to use the peaceful protests scheduled for the following week as a “pretext to launch violent attacks against state institutions and peaceful citizens.” The police did not specify the number of people arrested or their names.
Sierra Leone, a small West African state among the least developed in the world, held general elections on June 24th. President Julius Maada Bio was re-elected for a second term in the first round, according to official results, which the opposition disputes.
International observers noted “statistical inconsistencies” and condemned a “lack of transparency” in the vote counting process. The opposition refused to participate in any form of governance, both at the local and national levels, and decided to boycott the Parliament.
