By Cinnatus Dumbuya
FREETOWN
The government of Sierra Leone said on Monday that the country's 90-day state of emergency – declared to contain the outbreak of the Ebola virus – could last for a year after an initial 90-day period elapsed a few days ago.
Sierra Leone's Attorney General and Minister of Justice Franklyn Bai Kargbo said in a statement that a parliament resolution did not specify a short period for the application of the state of emergency.
"Accordingly, the declaration of the state of emergency by the President remains in full force and effect for 12 months from the date of declaration," the minister said.
President Ernest Bai Koroma proclaimed the state of emergency in July in an effort to contain the deadly Ebola virus that killed hundreds in the West African country.
"The state of emergency will be initially implemented for a period of 60-90 days and subsequent measures will be announced as and when necessary," the president was quoted by state television as saying then.
In August of this year, Sierra Leone's parliament approved the President proclamation of the state of emergency.
A large number of the country's citizens were expecting the President to address the nation upon the expiry of the state of emergency after the initial 90 days, but the absence of an official statement prompted some citizens to go about their normal daily activities: visiting entertainment centres and holding social public gathering, among others.
Debates on whether the state of emergency should come to an end or be extended, meanwhile, went viral.
The government had consequently issued a statement, warning against what it described as "the continued spread of Ebola infection."
"It is clear that measures announced from time to time on the prevailing Ebola disease remain in force during the subsisting 12 months period of public emergency," the government said in a press release.
In recent months, Ebola – a contagious disease for which there is no known treatment or cure – has killed 4,951 people worldwide, mostly in West Africa, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
A total of 1,510 deaths have been reported in Sierra Leone alone.
www.aa.com.tr/en
