Following the purported coup attempt on November 26, Sierra Leone has taken legal action against 12 individuals, charging them with treason and various related offenses, as stated in an official press release.
Among those indicted stands Amadu Koita, identified by the government as a key figure in orchestrating the attempted coup. Koita, a former soldier and one-time bodyguard of ex-president Ernest Bai Koroma, had gained a significant following on social media platforms, where he openly criticized President Julius Maada Bio’s administration.
His arrest on December 4 was part of a larger apprehension effort, resulting in the detention of 85 individuals allegedly connected to the events of November 26, a majority of whom were affiliated with the military.
The twelve accused, which include former police officers, face charges encompassing “treason, misprision of treason, harbouring, aiding, and abetting the enemy,” according to a statement released by Information Minister Chernor Bah.
Eleven of the suspects were presented before a judge in Freetown, while one individual’s case was postponed due to illness. The statement confirmed that all of them had legal representation during the proceedings.
The assault on a military arsenal, two barracks, two prisons, and two police stations on November 26 led to a confrontation between the assailants and security forces.
The clashes resulted in the loss of 21 lives, along with the escape of numerous prisoners before authorities managed to regain control, categorizing the incident as an attempted coup orchestrated by elements within the armed forces.
The outbreak of violence raised concerns about potential further coups in West Africa, a region that has witnessed political upheavals in countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Guinea since 2020.
