A  military court in Sierra Leone has sentenced 24 soldiers to lengthy prison terms for their roles in a failed attempt to overthrow the government of President Julius Maada Bio last November.

The sentences were read out in court late on Friday with the judge handing out prison terms ranging from 50 and 120 years on those convicted.

They were among 27 men court-martialled for participating in the attempted coup on Nov. 26 that saw gunmen attack military barracks, two prisons and other locations, freeing about 2,200 inmates and killing more than 20 people.