It is now evident that why his Excellencey President Brig.( Rtd) Julius Maad Bio may have decided to change the command structure of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) following Wednesday 10th August, 2022 Insurrection in the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) Party North-East Region  strongholds of the Western Areas Country and parts of the North-West and North-East Regions.

Prior to the Wednesday insurrection of National Security (ONS) on Tuesday  9th August, 2022 sent a correspondence to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in the Ministry of Defence that the Honourable Vice President and Deputy Chairman of the National Security Council has directed the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) to assist the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) under the backing of Military Aid to Civil Power (MACP) Policy in the Emergency Category. This directive takes effect on the date of this correspondence.”

The directive was consequent on the potentially volatile security situation in the country caused by repeated social media incitements of the gullible population to embark on countrywide violent demonstrations with the aim of subverting the peace and stability of the state,” the correspondence states, adding.

“The SLP has assessed its resources and advised that it may not alone cope with the emerging security situation.” It furthered that “The objective is to ensure that appropriate plans are made and necessary actions taken by the RSLAF in support of the SLP to ensure the security of the state and its wellbeing,” adding, “Anchoring on Emergency MACP, it is expected and that the joint SLP and RSLAF operations will be appropriate and proportionate. Also, it is hoped that the process will provide robust and capable frameworks for a professional handling of the emergency security challenges and in future geared towards achieving
peace and stability.”

After the erstwhile Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Sullay Sesay had received the correspondence on Tuesday 9th August 2022, he summoned a muster parade and strictly admonished all RSLAF personnel to refrain from having anything to do with politics and stay in their barracks despite instructions from the Vice President through the Office of National Security (ONS).

Reports are that the former CDS travelled on the day of the insurrection, which delayed the invocation of MACP that culminated in the deaths of many civilians and police officers, as well as the destruction of public and private properties by violent protesters