Sierra Leone: Information on a coup plot in August or September 1995 and whether the military is seeking the family members of the coup plotters

Information on an August or September coup plot could not be could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB. However, please find attached information on an attempted coup plot that was uncovered on 3 October 1995.

In a 7 June 1996 telephone interview, a professor of international relations from Staffordshire University, who is a specialist on Sierra Leone and has recently returned from a research expedition in Sierra Leone, confirmed that the National Provisional Ruling Council (NPRC) had taken several soldiers into custody for their involvement in an attempted coup, but indicated that the existence of an intention to overthrow the goverment is currently a matter of dispute. The source noted that although soldiers were arrested in connection with plotting a coup attempt, it is unclear what the extent of the conspiracy was or whether any actions against the military command actually occurred. It seems that the arrest of the soldiers was actually based on rumors of a coup plot and it is not evident on how developed this coup plot was.

When the source was questioned on whether family members of the soldiers involved with the coup attempt are being sought by the military, he stated that he was unaware of any reports that the family members of the coup leaders were being sought in relation to the coup attempt. The source noted that the military has handed over the government to civilian rule as of 29 March 1996, and that the military is currently out of power and "very cowed". Many of the junta leaders under the Strasser regime have been returned to barracks or have left the country on overseas study leave. The source added that the military policy of the current civilian government is to demobilize and significantly reduce the size of the country's armed forces from the current total of 14, 000 members to 10, 000.

Please consult the For di People attachment of 17 February 1996 for information on the impending release of five soldiers who were incriminated in the attempted coup.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Reference

Professor of international relations, Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, UK. 7 June 1996. Telephone interview.

Attachments

Africa Research Bulletin [London]. 23 November 1995. Vol. 32, No. 10. "Sierra Leone: Coup Attempt Foiled," pp. 12028-029.

Agence France Presse (AFP) [Paris, in English]. 3 October 1995. "Alleged Coup Attempt Foiled in Capital." (FBIS-AFR-95-191 3 October 1995, p. 28)

_____. 3 October 1995. "Names of Alleged Coup Attempt Plotters Released." (FBIS-AFR-95-192 4 October 1995, p. 15)

Amnesty International. 27 October 1995. Urgent Action: Sierra Leone: Further Information on on UA 231/95 (AFR 51/08/95, 4 October 1995) - Fear of Death Sentences and Executions. (AI Index: AFR 51/09/95). London: Amnesty International

_____. 4 October 1995. Urgent Action: Sierra Leone: Fear of Death Sentences and Executions. (AI Index: AFR 51/08/95). London: Amnesty International.

BBC World Service [London, in English]. 9 October 1995. "Strasser on Coup Plotters, Elections." (FBIS-AFR-95-196 11 Oct. 1995, p.14)

For di People [Freetown, in English]. 17 February 1996. Benoni Clarke. "Coupists on the Verge of Release," p. 1.

West Africa [London]. 9-15 October 1995. No. 4069. "Sierra Leone: Coup Plotters Arrested," p. 1547.