Earth Science News
AFRICA NEWS
ECOWAS delegation in Sierra Leone after 'coup' attempt
ECOWAS delegation in Sierra Leone after 'coup' attempt
by AFP Staff Writers
Freetown (AFP) Dec 23, 2023

A West African delegation led by the leaders of Senegal and Ghana were in Sierra Leone on Saturday to lay the groundwork for a "security mission" in the wake of an alleged coup attempt in November.

On November 26, armed attackers stormed a military armoury, two barracks, two prisons and two police stations, clashing with security forces.

Twenty-one people were killed and hundreds of prisoners escaped before authorities were able to regain control after what they deemed a coup attempt by members of the armed forces.

The violence sparked fears of another coup in West Africa, where Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Guinea have all experienced putsches since 2020.

A recent summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) launched the delegation to "facilitate the deployment of a security mission to Sierra Leone to help stabilise the country".

"After the heinous attempt to overthrow the democratically elected government on November 26, ECOWAS considered that the region must be protected and decided to send a stabilisation mission to Sierra Leone," the country's Foreign Minister Timothy Kabba said in a radio interview late Friday.

He insisted that the ECOWAS force would not be a military intervention, noting similar forces in Gambia and Guinea Bissau.

"We have a very competent army that suppressed the insurgents -- in no way does this impinge on Sierra Leone's sovereignty," Kabba said.

Senegal's President Macky Sall and Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo are both in Freetown to discuss the security situation with Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio, their offices said.

Sierra Leone authorities on Wednesday lifted the curfew that was imposed in the wake of the November 26 clashes.

Related Links
Africa News - Resources, Health, Food

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
AFRICA NEWS
Last French troops bow out of Niger
Niamey, Niger (AFP) Dec 22, 2023
The last French troops withdrew from Niger on Friday, in the latest blow to more than a decade of French anti-jihadist operations in west Africa's Sahel region. The French exit leaves just hundreds of US military personnel and a number of Italian and German troops remaining in the country. France announced it would pull out its roughly 1,500 soldiers and pilots from Niger after the former French colony's new ruling generals demanded they depart following a coup on July 26. It was the third t ... read more

AFRICA NEWS
Lula vetos part of Brazil's controversial pesticide bill

High-nutritional crops needed in Africa as population increases

Chinese appetite for Australian barley is back

Electronic "soil" enhances crop growth

AFRICA NEWS
Surf's up: Big waves pound US West Coast

In coastal communities, sea level rise may leave some isolated

Shrinking Caspian Sea worries secretive Turkmenistan

Spain's Galicia struggles with mass shellfish die-off

AFRICA NEWS
2023 set to be UK's second-hottest year: Met Office

Macron urges fresh push to fight climate change, poverty

Morocco faces sixth consecutive year of drought: minister

The quandary of cleaner air, rising temperatures and atmospheric intervention

AFRICA NEWS
Portugal's renewable power generation hit record level in 2023

Innovative catalyst achieves continuous CO2 conversion regardless of weather conditions

'Urban mining' offers green solution to old solar panels

Ascent Solar achieves critical spaceflight milestone with Vigoride-6 Mission

AFRICA NEWS
Nigerians look to biofuel as cost of cooking gas soars

Chinese company gives leftover hotpot oil second life as jet fuel

Cheap and efficient ethanol catalyst from laser-melted nanoparticles

UK permits 'world-first' flight powered by sustainable fuels

AFRICA NEWS
Evolution might stop humans from solving climate change, says new study

Bangladesh's 'tiny houses' tackle giant flood challenge

'Helpless': Japan earthquake shatters New Year calm

Race against time after deadly Japan quake

AFRICA NEWS
U.S. Treasury targets network financing Houthi attacks

Huthi rebels fire on commercial ships in Red Sea: US military

Norway fund divests Gulf state assets over human rights, climate

Russia says redirected most oil exports to China, India

AFRICA NEWS
Asia stocks track global losses as traders step back after rally

Xi says willing to work with US for stable relationship

Thailand to extend visa-free entry for Chinese tourists

China's first domestically built cruise ship begins maiden voyage

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.