27 Sierra Leone soldiers charged with mutiny following November coup attempt

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) – Twenty-seven soldiers were charged with mutiny before a court-martial in Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown on Monday in connection with their alleged role in a failed coup attempt last year.

The soldiers are accused of taking part in a botched coup on Nov. 26, Information Minister Chernor Bah told reporters.

The move came days after former President Ernest Bai Koroma was last week charged with four counts including “treason, misprision of treason and two counts of harboring” in connection with the incident.

On Nov. 26, deadly violence broke out in Freetown, leaving 19 people dead, including security personnel and a civilian.

The assailants attacked military barracks and prisons, freeing around 2,000 inmates.

The government described the clashes as an attempted coup.

The military said several of the attackers were Koroma’s former bodyguards.

Around 80 suspects were arrested following the incident, including serving military officers and police officers.