Politics

Sierra Leone: 24 soldiers to serve long prison terms after failed coup

Published

5 months ago

August 11, 2024

For their roles in the unsuccessful attempt to topple President Julius Maada Bio’s administration in November of last year, 24 soldiers have been condemned to long prison terms by a military court in Sierra Leone.

The presiding judge read down the penalties in court, giving the convicted parties prison terms ranging from 50 to 120 years.

They were among the 27 individuals who were court-martialed for their roles in the attempted coup on November 26, during which gunmen stormed two jails, a military barrack, and other facilities, liberating over 2,200 prisoners and killing over 20.

Ex-president, Ernest Bai Koroma was accused of participating in a botched military coup attempt in November, and on January 3, was charged with four offences. However, a high court decided on Wednesday that Koroma was free to leave the nation.

Following the July imprisonment of 11 people, as well as police and prison officials for their involvement in the uprising, comes the sentence.

After hours of discussion, a jury consisting of seven military members unanimously declared the majority of the court-martialed troops guilty. The men were charged with eighty-eight crimes, including murder, mutiny, assisting the enemy, and theft of property used for public or private use.

All except one of the individuals charged were regular troops. After being found guilty, a lieutenant colonel was given the maximum sentence of 120 years in jail.

Judge Advocate Mark Ngegba, a former military commander himself, stated, “When we reach this conclusion for sentences it is to send a message of zero tolerance for such an act in the military,” before imposing the punishments.

Three were left; one was acquitted, one was sentenced early after entering a guilty plea, and the third’s trial is scheduled to end at a later time as relatives of the convicted wept as the sentences were announced.

The failed attempt followed an election in which President Bio narrowly won to secure a second term. His victory was disputed by the main opposition APC party, while some local and international observers also questioned the transparency of the vote.

The West African subregion to which Sierra Leone belong has witnessed the highest number of coups in recent history with Burkina Faso, Niger Republic, Mali and Guinea all under military dictators currently.

Related Topics:Coups Featured President Bio Sierra Leone

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

6 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

7 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.