Protesters have taken to the streets in Freetown, Sierra Leone, to demand justice for the killing of opposition party members and an end to election malpractices.
PulseNets reports that the Sierra Leone military was deployed to disperse the protesters, and there were reports of gunfire, reported killings and injuries to protesters.
“At Moyamba community, there is protest and also on Black Hall road, Freetown, the state capital, one person has been shot,” a witness said.
“The ongoing protest in Sierra Leone today is over the rise in the cost of fuel, food commodities, election malpractice during the 2023 general elections and the killing of opposition party members.
“The entire country protesting today; all the deaths recently were recorded in Freetown,” Sahara Reporters reported another witness as saying.
The protests came after the country’s capital was on Sunday plunged into darkness after Turkish firm Karpowership switched off the electricity supply following an unpaid debt of around $40 million.
According to eyewitnesses, protesters gathered in several parts of the city, including Moyamba and Black Hall road, and blocked major roads.
The protesters demand that the government investigate the killing of opposition party members and bring the perpetrators to justice.
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They are also calling for an end to election malpractices, such as vote rigging and intimidation of voters.
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