POLITICS
SIERRA LEONE – Authorities denounce coup attempt on Sunday

Senior Sierra Leonean officials estimated on Tuesday that the unrest that killed 21 people on Sunday, November 26, 2023 in Freetown was the result of a new coup attempt in West Africa, involving soldiers and guards from former President Ernest Bai Koroma.
The instigators of the coup that shook the capital on Sunday and also brought out hundreds of detainees are however not identified and no link is established at this stage with Mr. Koroma, between 2007 and 2018 of the current Head of State Julius Maada Bio, they said.
These officials delivered to the press the most detailed account to date of the troubles that occurred on Sunday, which the authorities had hitherto refrained from qualifying nature.
They also reaffirmed that the authorities were in control of the situation, while gunshots, fired during the arrest of a suspect, again caused fear in the capital on Tuesday.
“We opened an investigation into a failed coup attempt,” said police chief William Fayia Sellu. “A group of people tried to overthrow the ruling power using force,” he said.
In the early hours of Sunday, men attacked a military armory, two other barracks, two prisons and two police stations, confronting the security forces with weapons in hand.
The fighting killed 21 people, including 14 soldiers, a policeman, a prison guard, a security guard, a woman and three assailants, said Information Minister Chernor Bah.
– “Nice Reward” –
More than 2,200 detainees have been released, of whom 124 have since returned, said Colonel Sheikh Sulaiman Massaquoi, head of the prison services.
Thirteen military and one civilian suspected of involvement in the coup are in detention, the Information Minister said. The authorities said they were conducting a “manhunt” to find other suspects.
The police published on Tuesday the photos and names of 32 men and 2 women wanted as “fugitives”, including soldiers and policemen active or retired. And promised a “nice reward” to anyone who provides information leading to their capture.
A significant number of rebels are former guards of former president Ernest Bai Koroma, said Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Peter Lavahun. He invoked the ongoing investigations to guard against deciding on Mr. Koroma’s involvement.
He also acknowledged that the leaders remained to be identified.
Officials said, as suggested by photos circulating on social media, a former member of Mr. Koroma’s inner circle was among those killed.
– ECOWAS “ready” –
Mr. Koroma, who lives in the capital, condemned the violence on Sunday in a statement, and reported that a corporal assigned to his guard had been shot dead in the perimeter of his residence.
Officials acknowledged that, contrary to early government statements, the rebels managed to get their hands on weapons.
Security services recovered two vehicles with rocket launchers and automatic rifles on the outskirts of Freetown, he added. But they admitted to ignoring what was still out there.
These events immediately awakened the spectre of a new coup d’état in a West Africa that, since 2020, has seen in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Guinea, all among the 15 member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), like Sierra Leone.
The Sierra Leonean head of state received on Monday a high-level delegation from ECOWAS and Nigeria, heavyweight of the region that currently holds the presidency of the organization, according to images broadcast by its services on Tuesday.
ECOWAS is ready to deploy to Sierra Leone “regional elements if necessary,” said West African Bloc Commission Chair Omar Alieu Touray, without specifying what “elements” he was talking about.
The Sierra Leonean Minister of Information, however, assured that at this stage Freetown was not asking for such a deployment.
IVORY COAST
IVORY COAST – The PDCI-RDA march postponed to June 14 to support Tidjane Thiam

Initially scheduled for Wednesday, June 11, 2025, the major march of the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire – African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA), the main opposition party in Côte d’Ivoire, will finally take place on Saturday, June 14, 2025. This postponement was announced by the party’s Executive Secretary, who points out that the decision came after discussions between the PDCI leadership and the authorities of the Abidjan department. The details of these discussions have not been made public.
This demonstration, highly anticipated by the party’s activists and supporters, aims to support the candidacy of its president, Tidjane Thiam, in the presidential election of 2025, and to protest against his removal from the electoral list. A decision that the party qualifies as unfair and unacceptable, arguing for the right of all Ivorian citizens, including those with dual nationality, to participate in the political life of the country.
The route of the march remains unchanged: the protesters will leave from the SOCOCE space of the 2 Plateaux, in the municipality of Cocody, to head towards the headquarters of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI). The party calls for a strong peaceful mobilization in order to convey a clear message: demand inclusive, transparent and peaceful elections.
The removal of Tidjane Thiam and other opposition figures is mainly based on the issue of dual nationality, a legal provision that continues to be debated as the election approaches. The PDCI, which sees in Thiam a rally candidate capable of unifying the Ivorians, intends to make this march a highlight of its campaign and its democratic fight.
Photo credit: Tidiane Thiam page
GUINEA
GUINEA – Visit of the African Union, renewed commitment for a successful transition

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Morissanda Kouyaté, received this Sunday, June 1, 2025 in Conakry a delegation from the African Union, on an official visit to Guinea. On this occasion, he reaffirmed the commitment of the transitional authorities to respect the deadlines set for the return to constitutional order, while stressing the historical and central role of Guinea in the construction of the Pan-African project.
« I am very happy. The African Union is at Guinea’s side to accompany and support the vision of the head of state, President Mamadi Doumbouya, in favor of Guinea and Africa, in the political, diplomatic, economic, and cultural fields, declared the head of Guinean diplomacy.
This meeting takes place in a context marked by the preparations for the constitutional referendum scheduled for next September 21.
Morissanda Kouyaté also recalled the founding involvement of Guinea in the creation of the Organization of African Unity, which became the African Union. “This visit materializes the commitment of the Peace and Security Council to accompany Guinea in a dynamic of ambitious political and diplomatic transformation,” he stressed.
The minister indicated that all actions related to the transition are currently funded by the national development budget, while calling for a broader mobilization of the international community. “We have requested a round table, called the Basketfront, to seek support to speed up the process. But this does not mean that we will give up,” he said, reiterating President Doumbouya’s willingness to scrupulously respect the scheduled deadlines.
He finally wanted to reassure on the efforts made to ensure an inclusive electoral process. “We are going through a difficult period, and that is why we want all Guineans to be registered in order to obtain a reliable electoral roll,” concluded Morissanda Kouyaté.
Source: guinee360 / Photo credit: Page Ministry of Foreign Affairs Guinea
IVORY COAST
IVORY COAST AFRICA – The PDCI-RDA march postponed to June 14 to support Tidjane Thiam

The list of presidential candidates in Côte d’Ivoire is expanding on Saturday, May 31, 2025. After the withdrawal of Tidjane Thiam, another candidate comes to replace him. The latter had submitted his application in 2020 but it was invalidated. Indeed, in his announcement of candidacy, the latter has emphasized the valorization of cultural and spiritual values of the country.
The presidential election in Côte d’Ivoire promises to be exciting. Some candidates have been withdrawn and others are being added to the list of candidates. Additions for a common purpose sitting in the chair. An objective that arouses the interest of Olivier Djè Bi Djè, who has submitted his candidacy. Thus, the deputy of the city of Zuénoula announced his candidacy for the presidential election of 25 October 2025 on 31 May 2025.
An application that was invalidated five years ago (2020) due to sponsorship non-compliance. However, this candidacy could be valid because the politician has well prepared his mount before launching. However, there is still some way to go. Indeed, to be sure, the member for Zuénoula of Côte d’Ivoire has an obligation to respect the electoral code by bringing together at least sponsorship in 17 independent regions.
Olivier Djè Bi Djè, in his candidacy announcement speech, unveiled his management plan once at the presidency headquarters. As the Ivorian politician is a manager, he opts for common management with a future of social justice, without forgetting peace and sustainable development.
He gave a pledge on leadership based on the identity of the country. It also intends to place cultural and spiritual values high on the agenda with traditional leaders. Finally, the new candidate calls for unity in order to address the country’s challenges as quickly as possible. He also counts on the population for a victory.
Source: africa-sur7 / Credit photo: afrique-sur7
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