Following investigations on the November 26, 2023 failed attempted coup in Sierra Leone, the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) has dismissed 48 serving personnel and the Sierra Leone Police dismissing 5 personnel.
Director of Communications and Public Relations Officer in the Ministry of Defence, Colonel Issa Bangura told AYV that 27 of the dismissed soldiers are currently facing 88 count charges in court.
He stressed that the involved military personnel had breached ethical standards outlined in a code of conduct, adding that the Ministry of Defence strictly prohibits serving military officers from engaging in illegal military networks or participating in political discourse that could endanger peace and cohesion.
He said the catalyst for these dismissals was the unearthing of an illegal WhatsApp group called ‘Joint Kalamera Peace and Security Network’ (KPSN), created by certain serving military personnel and utilised by the attempted coup plotters for communication.
Colonel Bangura went on that operating under both civil and military laws, the RSLAF faces a unique challenge, referring to a joint press release from the previous week and underscored the gravity of the situation.
He said during a recent investigation, an abandoned vehicle registered to one Corporal Koroma was found at the Joint Communication Unit of Wilberforce Barracks.
“A subsequent search revealed a serially arranged list of names belonging to RSLAF military personnel. Additionally, an illegal WhatsApp group owned by civilian Sheka Dumbuya contained a list of the attempted coup plotters. Colonel Bangura stated.
Emphasising the gravity of the situation, Colonel Bangura clarified that the intent of the serving military personnel, as evidenced by the discovered list and WhatsApp group, was to engage in subversive activities aimed at executing an attempted coup on November 26, 2023.
Similarly, the Sierra Leone Police has dismissed five police officers, ASP Ibrahim Sesay, Inspector Kabba Kamara, Inspector Tamba Yamba, Sergeant Emmanuel Salifu Kamara and Police Constable Abdul Sorie Hassan Kamara, for committing various professional misconduct.
Director of Professional Standards at the Sierra Leone Police, AIG Sahr Y. Senesie said the dismissed officers went through Disciplinary Hearings conducted by the Complaint Discipline and Internal Investigations Department (CDIID) in Freetown.
He said ASP Ibrahim Sesay and Sgt. Emmanuel Salifu Kamara were deployed to former President Ernest Bai Koroma while the remaining three were attached at the OSD Headquarters, Congo Cross Police Division and Lumley Police Divisions respectively.
AIG Senesie said the affected police officers were dismissed after being found guilty for the various offences they were charged by the Complaint Discipline and Internal Investigations Department (CDIID).
He said he had upheld the decision of the Discipline Court after carefully reviewing the reported submitted by the Presiding Officer of the Discipline Court.
