The Vice President of Sierra Leone, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has declared a nationwide curfew following a nationwide protest Wednesday with protesters calling on the government to resolve the issue of economic hardship and the high cost of living in the country.
In the morning hours of Wednesday, August 10, 2022, protests hit several communities in the east end of Freetown and other major towns across the northern province of Sierra Leone.
The curfew starts today, by 3pm. Aggrieved members of the public were protesting for the third day, over worsening economic conditions in the country.
Vice President Jalloh invoked the military to work alongside the police against the protesters after at least two police men and unspecified number of citizens have been killed.
United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone, Babatunde Ahonsi expressed serious concerns over the violent incidents in Freetown. The UN called for calm and peaceful dialogue to resolve the issues.
Ruling government media operative, Alpha Saidu Bangura, says, MACPI (police and soldiers) personnel have been ordered to shoot at sight, anyone caught violating curfew directives.
Over the past couple of months, the costs of basic commodities, grains, fuel, and other needs have sky-rocketed rapidly and there seems to be no resolution in sight. Following this incident, the internet was shut down across the country for at least two hours.
Also, the European Union in Sierra Leone, and the U.S Embassy have condemned, in strong terms, the act of violence and called for a swift intervention over the incident.