What happened in Sierra leone?
On November 26, unidentified gunmen targeted the Wilberforce military barracks and several police stations and correctional centres in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
The Minister of Information and Civic Education declared the attacks in the capital as an unsuccessful coup attempt to overthrow the government.
In August 2023, the Sierra Leone police had arrested several people, including senior military officers who were accused of planning violent attacks on government institutions.
What is ECOWAS
Since 2020, six African countries have undergone nine coups and coup attempts.
Countries including Niger, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Gabon and Sudan are under military rule.
The growing antagonism of people towards democratically elected governments paved the way for the junta to legitimise their takeovers.
The Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) intolerance towards unconstitutional takeovers was emphasised when the organisation threatened Niger with military intervention and levied economic sanctions.
Sierra Leone is a member country of ECOWAS and hence if any security concern arises in the future.
ECOWAS and the member countries will step in to maintain constitutional order.
The visit from the ECOWAS’ delegates to the country highlights its commitment towards democracy.
Sierra Leone is one of the poorest countries in the world and if a coup attempt is successful, the consequent ECOWAS intervention and sanction will be detrimental.
Sierra Leone – location
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