The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has condemned the violence that occurred in Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown, on Wednesday.

At least two police officers and one civilian died after a day of anti-government protests in Freetown, according to a Reuters report.

The government of Sierra Leone previously said there had been deaths, but did not say how many, as protesters threw rocks and burnt tyres in the streets out of frustration at worsening economic hardship and other issues.

‘The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Commission) strongly condemns the violence that occurred in many locations in Sierra Leone and have led to loss of lives’, ECOWAS said in a statement.

‘ECOWAS calls on all to obey law and order and for the perpetrators of the violence to be brought to justice, in accordance with the law’.

Verified videos on social media show large crowds of young men throwing rocks on a street filled with whitish smoke.

‘These unscrupulous individuals have embarked on a violent and unauthorised protest which has led to the loss of lives of innocent Sierra Leoneans, including security personnel’, Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh in a video address.

‘The government hereby declares a nationwide curfew’, he added. ‘The security sector has been authorised to fully enforce this directive’.

Sierra Leone, it is understood, has been struggling with rising inflation and a fuel crisis. A section of women in the capital had taken to the streets on 04 July, 2022, to protest the harsh economic conditions.

The women all dressed in black with handheld microphones chanted as they moved through the Central Business District.

Photo source: Reuters