Sierra Leone Police arrest senior military officers over plot to undermine democracy

The Sierra Leone Police Force have arrested high/ranking military officials following underground intelligence that they were working to undermine the nation’s democracy.

The suspects had intended to cause disruption across the country under the pretexts of upcoming protests, according to police intelligence.

“In that regard, several arrests have been made and the suspects are assisting the police with the investigations,” reads a statement released on Monday by the police headquarters in Freetown.

The arrests were made by the police to prevent any possibility of President Julius Maada Bio’s democratically elected government distracted by insurrection and panic, or the possibility of military takeover as was seen in Niger.

“Preliminary investigations have revealed these individuals planned to use purported peaceful protests between 7th to 10th August 2023, as a guise to unleash violent attacks against state institutions and peaceful citizens,” the statement reads.

“Despite continued efforts to consolidate our hard won peace and democratic gains, there are individuals at home and abroad that continue to undertake actions meant to derail the peace and tranquility of the country,” the Sierra Leonean police asserted but assured the nation’s security sector had the situation under control.

The cases of military oustings have been very common in recent times especially in the West African community. Burkina Faso and Mali have forged an alliance with Niger Republic and have turned to Russia for assistance in providing weapons to challenge attacks from the military intervention ECOWAS has planned in retaking Niger from the junta.