Curfew revoked, life returns to normal in Sierra Leone

By Bodunrin Kayode

The Government of Sierra Leone has revoked the curfew which was imposed on the country recently due to violent demonstrations by some angry sections.

A release from the office of the inspector General of Police, William Sellu recently stated that “following the declaration of a nationwide curfew by the Vice President of Sierra Leone, the general public was notified that the curfew which came in force on the 10th August has been revoked.”

It can be recalled that the curfew was speedily enforced from 3pm on the 10th of August when hundreds of young people demonstrated in certain sections of the country over what they described as excruciating economic conditions forced on them by the government.

They called on the civilian Government of President Julius Mada-Bio to resign because it had become unpopular in their opinion and unable to settle the carry over of fiscal burdens forced on it by the covid 19 scourge.

The Government quickly adjusted the timing of the shut down in the following day to start from 7am and that applied for both the 11th to 12th August 2022.

However on the 13th of August, the curfew was lifted completely in those areas which were affected and people were free to go around without necessarily being essential workers who were the only once allowed to move during the calming of the street violence.

Reports monitored from Sierra Leone indicated that properties worth millions of Leones were destroyed in some parts of the Eastern area of the capital, Makeni, Magburaka, kamakwie and surrounding.

There was tension in some parts of the western area but it remained basically peaceful especially Murray town, Wilkinson road, Lumley and beyond because people went about their normal lives unhindered.

While the blood letting was going on in some parts, some allegedly inciting videos were making the rounds in the social media calling out some sections of the country to protest and hold the streets in a military fashion till the President resigns.

One of the audio with a male voice who called himself Adebayo was saying that the military was badly divided with tribal bigots adding that it was time to remain alert because “anything could happen on the very night of the 12 of August when the killings continued” which was the day it went viral.

Similar audios from one Salone cashbox kept on inciting the people of the country with an anticipitation that the military should take over political power again in the Country.

“We know that there are some people in the military playing the tribal card at this time of our democracy. So my people be prepared because anything can happen before tomorrow morning.

“Just be well informed that whatever happens will be for the good of everyone. For some of us we believe that if the government is not ready to protect the constitution and the people, then the military will do just that.

” I urge you all to come out and embrace the change which we are all anticipating because we will not continue to suffer under this Government.” Said the male voice who called himself cash box in the audio which was circulated in the major cities.

Response on the “boys scout” accusation by a lady wearing military fatigue

Indeed many videos of gory pictures of the killings that took place within 48 hours even of uniformed personnel during those days before the imposition of the curfew but the military refused to respond to the call to sack the government.

Rather a lady dressed in army uniform appeared in one of the videos appealing to Sierra Leoneans to be careful how quick they respond to incitements.

“My.name is Turuge and I joined the Army at a tender age of 12 in 1991. Most of you may not understand what we went through during the civil war which is why you are involved in this violence.

” Some of you are calling soldiers boys scout because we refused to seize power. I agree you can call us any name you like but we will not take over this government because you say so. It’s not right.

“The government of President Mada-Bio is a democratically elected government and nobody will push us to do the wrong thing again.

“My people I am talking with pains in my heart and I want you to understand that war is not good eventhough I am a soldier. I fought in the war front and I saw many of our compatriots pay the supreme sacrifice while many others lost their limbs.

” Please stop calling on the military simply because you don’t know the implications. I beg you please do not take us back to that route again and stop inciting us to take over it’s not popular anymore” she said in an emotional krio voice.

National wide broadcast

As a response to the violent protests, President Julius Mada-Bio addressed the nation and promised to get to the root of the violence which took the life of an unspecified number of civilians and 4 policemen.

Speaking as the commander in Chief of Armed forces, he said no stone will be turned to get to the bottom of what happened to the country.

He resultantly ruffled feathers at the top brass level where sitting Defense Chief Lt General Sullay Sesay was replaced by a new Chief Lt General Peter Lavahun.

Seven other top brasses were moved around to tighten up the defense flank while he promised to protect every citizen of his country.

The President said that he has enough Intelligence details to establish that what happened on the 10th of August in those selected areas was an insurrection sponsored by some unnamed politicians adding that anyone nabbed would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

President Julius Mada-Bio was a military head of State from 16th January to 29th March 1996 in a junta called the national provincial ruling council (NPRC) which overthrew captain Valentine Straser.

His second coming as President of the Republic of Sierra Leone in 2018 was as a civilian and Brigadier General (Rt) and has been stabilizing the polity as the flag bearer of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) since then.

The country has gone through some litany of woes which includes, a decade long civil war followed by the scourge of Ebola and covid 19 lock down which practically crippled the economy and sent millions to their early grave.