Sierra Leone’s Former President Summoned Over Failed Coup
Sierra Leone police have summoned former president Ernest Bai Koroma for questioning over the failed coup attempt late last month.
Information Minister Cherno Bah said on Thursday the former leader was invited to report to the police headquarters in the capital Freetown within 24 hours.
Mr. Koroma said that he would honor the police summons and asked his supporters to be calm, according to a statement issued by his office.
Mr. Koroma’s summons follows the earlier arrest of his former security aide.
Dozens of gunmen launched a brazen attack last month in Freetown during which they broke into Sierra Leone’s key armory and a prison, freeing most of the more than 2,000 inmates.
At least 18 members of the security forces were killed during the clashes, while more than 50 suspects – including military officers – have been arrested so far.
Among those arrested was Amadu Koita, who worked as a security guard for Koroma until 2018 when the former president left office.
Police on Wednesday released an image that they say shows Koita with a gun in a surveillance photo captured when the prison was attacked. A bodyguard of the former president was also killed during the attack.
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At least 19 people, including 13 soldiers, died in what the authorities said afterward was an attempt to overthrow the government.
About 60 people, including 37 soldiers, have so far been arrested in connection with the violence.
Although he has officially retired from politics, Koroma remains an influential figure within his political party and often hosts prominent politicians in his hometown of Makeni.
There have been political tensions in Sierra Leone since President Julius Maada Bio was re-elected for a second term in a disputed vote in June.
Two months after he was re-elected, police said they arrested several people, including senior military officers planning to use protests “to undermine peace”.
