What all factors led to the coup attempt in Sierra Leone?

A failed coup attempt, as said by the Minister of Information and Civic Education, took place with the attacks in the capital for the purpose of overthrowing the government on November 26. On this day, some gunmen multiple police stations, and the Wilberforce military barracks in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Moreover, it is important to recall that several people were arrested by the Sierra Leone police in the month of August, and some senior military officers were also arrested. These officers were accused of plotting violent attacks on the government institutions. The recent attacks are seen as a measure to make those military officers free.

The situation in Sierra Leone

There are many forms of instability seen in Sierra Leone at present. Firstly, there exists a very high cost of living in the country, bringing the masses to extreme poverty. In the month of August, the rate of inflation in Sierra Leone shot up by 50.94 percent. The unemployment rate of the youth was recorded to be 4.15 percent in the previous year. Additionally, as per the United Nations, over 59.2 percent of the population in Sierra Leone actually lives in poverty.

It is said that the economic policies of the President added to the woes resulting in an increase in the cost of living. This economic instability led to violent protests in the previous year. The protest demanded that President Bio to resign. 

The West African country was not seeing favorable times on the political front as well. Ever since the re-election of President Bio took place in the month of June, the political climate of the country has not been very stable.  The All People's Congress party contested the results. The party alleged that the elections were actually manipulated. The parliament was boycotted by the opposition, thereby releasing a non-engagement policy with the government, wherein the elected members did not take up offices of the government at any level whatsoever until the month of October.

Not to miss, there also exists severe aggression of the police. The first incidence of this came in the prison riot of the year 2020 in the Pademba prison. The next one was the protests where 27 protesters and 6 police officers passed away in August 2022. There exists resentment towards the government because of the lack of responsibility at the time of protest casualties.

The state's take on the matter

After the attack, a curfew was levied on November 27. The airlines were informed by the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (SLCAA) to reschedule the flights as per the new curfew that is spread across the country. There has been a cash required declared for any individual who could offer information about the coup leaders