The United States Mission in Freetown has moved to debunk reports suggesting a diplomatic row between the US and Sierra Leone.
The Mission described as “misinformation” a report indicating that the impending departure of its ambassador, David Reimer was related to claims of diplomatic breach.
The claim, which first appeared online through a facebook post, suggested that Reimer had been transferred by the Biden administration because of his alleged involvement in local politics.
The claim was the subject of an investigation by the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists’ iVerify fact-checking platform, which also concluded that it was false.
Ambassador Reimer has come under fire from some supporters of the governing Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) for the US embassy’s position on the conduct of the June 24 general elections.
Alongside fellow western diplomats from the UK, France, Germany, Ireland and the European Union, the US diplomat has been outspoken about perceived lack of transparency in the process of counting and tabulation of the elections results.
Reimer has also been active on social media discussing issues emanating from the disputed polls, an attitude that have apparently irked some supporters of the Sierra Leone government.
Reimer was appointed by the Trump Administration as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Sierra Leone on January 19, 2021, and he arrived in the country in March that same year. He is due to leave after the end of his tenue, following the announcement of the appointment of his proposed successor by President Joe Biden in March this year.
According to the US embassy, his nominated successor, Brynat Hunt, is yet to be approved by Congress, noting that there is no indication when this will happen and when the new ambassador will eventually arrive in Freetown.
“The White House nominated Bryan Hunt to be the next ambassador to Sierra Leone on March 6 (well before the elections in Sierra Leone),” the embassy said in a statement issued by Sarah Van Horne, Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Freetown.
It adds that Hunt’s nomination is pending final confirmation by the US congress, a process that could take some time.
“Regardless of when it happens, this transition is part of the normal cycle of Ambassador arrivals and departures, which typically occurs every couple of years. It is not related to any events in Sierra Leone, and was announced publicly back in March,” Van Horne said.
