Armed assailants launched an attack on Sierra Leone's Central Pademba Road prison, facilitating the escape of an undisclosed number of inmates. The incident coincided with an assault on Wilberforce barracks, which houses multiple foreign embassies.
Although the security forces managed to control the situation, a nationwide curfew was imposed. Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio initiated a manhunt for the gunmen, while some disorder persists in Freetown.
The political climate in Sierra Leone has been tense since President Bio's controversial re-election in June, marked by allegations of inconsistencies, violence, and lack of transparency. Earlier in August, the arrest of soldiers accused of plotting a coup added to the country's instability.
The attacks on the prison and barracks highlight the ongoing challenges facing Sierra Leone's security and political stability.
