2023 Sierra Leone coup attempt

2023 Freetown attacks
Part of 2023 Sierra Leone coup plot

Location of Freetown in Sierra Leone
Date26–28 November 2023
(2 days)
Location
Freetown, Sierra Leone
8°29′4″N 13°14′4″W / 8.48444°N 13.23444°W / 8.48444; -13.23444
Status
  • Armoury attack repelled
  • Prison escape successful
  • National curfew imposed
Belligerents

 Sierra Leone

 Dissident military officers, unidentified militants and prisoners
Commanders and leaders
Julius Maada Bio Unknown
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
14 soldiers, 1 police officer, 1 prison guard killed[1]
8 soldiers injured[2]		 3 attackers killed[2]
80 arrested[3]
1 civilian, 1 private security employee killed[2]

On 26 November 2023, a group of militants attacked several locations in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone.[4][5][6][7] The country was subsequently placed under a nationwide curfew, with a manhunt being called to find the militants.[6] President Julius Maada Bio claimed the attack was repelled by the security forces and said the government was in control of the situation.[4][5] The attacks were described by international organizations as attempts to disrupt constitutional order in the country, and by information minister Chernor Bah as an "attempted coup".[8][5][9]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference africa57 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference bbc19 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference africadaughter was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b "Sierra Leone imposes nationwide curfew after military barracks attacked". Al Jazeera. November 26, 2023. Archived from the original on November 26, 2023. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Guardian was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b "Sierra Leone under curfew as prisoners on the loose". BBC News. November 26, 2023. Archived from the original on November 26, 2023. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  7. ^ "Sierra Leone president says calm restored, most leaders of barracks attack detained". Reuters. November 27, 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-11-26. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  8. ^ Pronczuk, Monika; Johnson, Joseph (2023-11-28). "Sierra Leone Announces Arrest of 13 Military Officials in 'Attempted Coup'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2023-11-28. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference barrons was invoked but never defined (see the help page).