A seven-person military jury in Sierra Leone found 24 soldiers guilty Friday of mutiny, murder and other charges in a 2023 failed coup attempt. After the jury’s decision, the judge handed the 24 soldiers lengthy sentences ranging from 50 to 120 years in prison. The lieutenant colonel, the highest-ranked member of the group, received the 120-year sentence. Judge Advocate Mark Ngegba emphasized the severity of the offenses as a rationale for the penalties. The men had attacked military barracks in Wilberforce, Sierra Leone in November 2023. Several convicts had previously served in the civil war during the 1990s and had long-standing military careers. In July, 11 civilians were also jailed for their roles in the attack.
According to a statement by Mustapha Jambai Massaquoi, the then-Minister of Information and Civic Education, the attackers were repelled when they tried to break into the armory at the Wilberforce barracks. The government assured the public that state security forces were in control and advised citizens to stay indoors with a curfew in effect.
The attack followed months of social unrest after the June 2023 presidential election, where President Julius Maada Bio of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) won with 56.17% of the vote. The result was controversial, with main opponent Samura Kamara of the All People’s Congress (APC) rejecting the results and calling for an investigation into the electoral process. The APC accused the military of using live ammunition and tear gas on their office after the election. However, the EU Election Observation Mission’s final report confirmed the credibility of the election results despite the controversy and violence.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) released a statement condemning the disturbances in Sierra Leone, reiterating their “zero-tolerance for unconstitutional changes of government.” The region is experiencing a surge in military coups, with six countries taken over by juntas in the past three years, including Gabon and Niger in 2023.
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