A stabilization force from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is set to be deployed in Sierra Leone in the coming weeks, as confirmed by Colonel Issa Bangura, Director of Defence Public Relations and Information for the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), during an interview with AYV News.
Colonel Bangura revealed that a substantial number of troops will be stationed in the country to bolster existing security measures and safeguard against any groups attempting to alter the government through unconstitutional means.
This move comes in response to the ongoing political instability following the June 24 general election. The situation has been particularly volatile since a failed coup attempt on November 26, raising concerns of further escalation.
Concurrently, a tripartite committee reviewing the June 24 election and prior electoral processes is expected to conclude its work within the next three weeks.
There is widespread speculation that the committee may recommend a rerun of the 2023 election, a suggestion that President Julius Maada Bio has already dismissed.
Amid this tension, there are murmurs of planned demonstrations if President Bio does not adhere to the committee’s recommendations, adding to the uncertainty in Sierra Leone’s political landscape.
In a recent statement in Bo, President Bio accused certain politicians of spreading false rumors about a new election and warned that any violent actions would be met with force, stating, “Anyone who comes with a bullet will be sent back with a bullet.”
The main opposition party, the All People’s Congress (APC), has expressed deep concern over President Bio’s remarks, describing them as incendiary and threatening.
As the country braces for the upcoming deployment of the ECOWAS stabilization force, all eyes are on the unfolding political developments and their potential impact on Sierra Leone’s future.
