Sierra Leone's president, Julius Maada Bio, has declared a nationwide curfew following an attack on the country's main military barracks in the capital, Freetown. Gunmen targeted the barracks and overran detention centers, including a major prison. The attack occurred amid a surge of coups in the region, raising fears of a breakdown of order. The Pademba Road Prisons, which held over 2,000 inmates, were also attacked, with some prisoners being abducted while others were released. Security forces managed to push back the assailants to the outskirts of the city, where fighting is ongoing. The government and security forces claim to be in control of the situation. However, gunshots were still heard in the city hours after the government assured residents of calm. It remains unclear who is behind the attack and whether any arrests have been made. Sierra Leone, with a population of 8 million people and one of the lowest scores on the U.N. Human Development Index, is among the poorest countries in the world.