ECOWAS, Nigerian delegation visit Sierra Leone over security breach

A delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has visited Sierra Leone following recent security breaches in the country.

In a tweet on its official X account, the commission said the delegation was accompanied by emissaries from the Nigerian government.

“A High-level delegation from ECOWAS Commission and the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has visited Freetown, Sierra Leone following a plot by certain individuals to acquire arms and disturb the peace and constitutional order in the country,” the tweet reads.

The delegation was led by Omar Alieu Touray, president of the ECOWAS commission; while representatives from the Nigerian government included Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser; Christopher Musa, chief of defence staff; and Emmanuel Udiandeye, chief of defence military intelligence.

Julius Bio, president of Sierra Leone, said the team conveyed a message of solidarity from President Bola Tinubu, ECOWAS chairperson; as well as that of other ECOWAS heads of states and governments.

Bio added that the delegation reiterated the ECOWAS member states’ commitment towards preserving democracy and good governance across the sub-region, while assuring of their readiness to work with the Sierra Leonian government towards forestalling any future security occurrences.

“My Government’s commitment to democracy, justice, the well-being and safety of our citizens remains unwavering. #SierraLeone’s leadership position in key institutions across the globe will be preserved,” the president tweeted.

“We are deeply thankful for the tremendous outpouring of support from key allies around the region and world.

“We shall continue to work towards preserving and promoting the priceless peace that we have enjoyed as a country since the end of our unfortunate decade-long civil war 21 years ago.”

The visit was prompted by the security lapses Sierra Leone has witnessed in recent times, including a coordinated jailbreak masterminded by gunmen and an attack on a military barracks which houses several foreign embassies, including those of China, Germany, Austria, Gambia, Lebanon and Syria.

While Bio has refrained from describing the chain of events as a coup, he labelled them an attempt to undermine the stability that the country has worked hard to achieve, and assured that those responsible would be held accountable through due process.