Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland has condemned the violence that erupted in some parts of Freetown on Sunday, 26 November 2023.
In a statement, Scotland said she was “deeply concerned” to learn that some individuals had broken into the Military Armoury at the Wilberforce barracks in Freetown. She added that she condemned such violent acts “in the strongest possible terms. (Xanax) ”
Scotland said that the violence had “saddened the Commonwealth family” and that it was “particularly distressing” given the progress that Sierra Leone had made in recent years. She noted that the government and the opposition, together with key democratic institutions and stakeholders, had been engaged in a “sincere, meaningful, and fruitful dialogue” that had been aimed at strengthening unity, peace, constitutional order, democratic governance, and national development.
Scotland said that the violence was “a betrayal of the courage, resilience, integrity, and love that have made Sierra Leone special.” She urged all Sierra Leoneans to reject violence and to work together to build a more peaceful and prosperous future for their country.
Scotland reaffirmed the Commonwealth’s “continuous full support” to President Maada Bio and his administration. She said that the Commonwealth would continue to “facilitate the dialogue process in the country” that had been started in August 2022. She added that she shared the hope that peace would be restored in Sierra Leone.
She concluded by stating that they would continue to facilitate the dialogue process in the country, which was started in August 2023, adding that she shared hope that peace will be restored in Sierra Leone.