On 10 August 2022, protests broke out in Freetown and other areas of the country amid mounting frustrations over the soaring cost of living. Some demonstrators called for President Bio to resign. These protests where violently suppressed by security forces with an unknown number of people killed.
According to Amnesty International “we collected testimonies alleging excessive use of force by Sierra Leonean security forces to crack down on protests which turned violent in Freetown, Makeni and Kamakwie in August 2022, in which six police officers and more than 20 protesters and bystanders were killed, including at least two women. Yet, it took more than two months for the State to release the non-police bodies for their burial, Amnesty International said today after having investigated the events”.
Since then repression has continued. On June 21st 2023 security forces forcibly dispersed a political gathering held by the All People’s Congress (APC) opposition party near the APC headquarters in Freetown. Police have reportedly used live ammunition. Casualty figures remain unclear.
Report via Punk 4 the Homeless:
Terrifying scenes emerging in Sierra Leone the past few days as the country prepares for elections on Saturday 24th June.
People have taken to the streets to protest, violence has broken out between opposing factions, innocent civilians and the police.
Videos are circulating of horrifying scenes and reports are coming out that people have been killed by the police – yet the western media is silent.
Hope Orphanage [which is supported by the Punk 4 the Homeless], has reported that the girls and young women are very scared and trying to keep indoors and as safe as is possible.
Video:
Videos are circulating of security forces again using deadly violence against protestors and innocent bystanders. Information is difficult to get out of the country at the moment and most news services are ignoring what is happening, after all it is more important to focus on millionaires trapped in a death trap of a submersible and the millions spent trying to rescue them.
AnarCom Network 