A year after deadly riots in August 2022 that claimed the lives of more than 30 people, Sierra Leonean authorities asserted that they had detained “several” individuals, including army officers, who were preparing violent attacks.

“The security sector has been following intelligence regarding the activities of certain individuals, including senior military officers, working to undermine the peace and tranquility of the state,” the police stated in a statement obtained by AFP on Monday evening.

The report goes on to say that the suspects intended to use the planned nonviolent demonstrations the following week “as a pretext to unleash violent attacks on state institutions and peaceful citizens.”

On August 10, 2022, riots sparked by inflation and frustration with the government claimed the lives of 27 civilians and six police officers. According to Amnesty International, it gathered testimonies.

On June 24, general elections were held in Sierra Leone, a tiny nation in West Africa that is among the least developed nations on earth. Official results, which the opposition opposes, show that President Julius Maada Bio won a second term in the first round.

International observers criticized a “lack of transparency” in the vote-counting process and cited “statistical inconsistencies” as their main point of contention. The opposition decided to boycott parliament since it would not take part in any municipal or national government positions.