By Kabs Kanu
The penchant for cheap propaganda by the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party ( SLPP) was kicked into high gear again today when information emerged from a post by the Guyana Chronicle that Mr. Bryan Hunt has been nominated to be the next U. S Ambassador to Sierra Leone.
With the standoff between their government and serving U.S. Ambassador David Reimer over the rigged elections not going away, SLPP supporters went berserk with gladness and began their typical and characteristic propaganda that Reimer had been recalled for interfering in Sierra Leone’s politics.
But the U.S. Embassy in Sierra Leone cut their fun short with an immediate rebuttal in a press statement addressed to the Sierra Leone media. The Embassy made it very clear that the change of ambassadors had nothing to do with Sierra Leone politics.
The message to be gleaned from this is that even the U.S. is losing patience with SLPP’s brand of politics built on deceit, tyranny, bullying of opponents , impunity and the cheapest imaginable propaganda. If the embassy had not responded speedily, one can just imagine how far SLPP supporters would have dragged the spin that the ambassador was recalled in their interest.
“SLPP do not know what they are playing with” , a popular Social media commentator, Ibrahim Sesay, noted afterwards. “Let them continue provoking America. ”
Since America and the international community demanded from the Elections Commission of Sierra Leone to release aggregated data by polling stations, it has not been done. Rather, President Bio and supporters have been publicly renouncing the U.S. and the international community and accusing them of interfering in the national politics of Sierra Leone.
BELOW , A TWEET BY SLPP SUPPORTER
ABOVE, THE PUBLICATION THAT BROUGHT THE ISSUE.
SEE BELOW THE RESPONSE BY THE U.S. EMBASSY
DEBUNKING MISINFORMATION:
Dear media colleagues, we’ve seen some misinformation online that we wanted to fact-check. The White House nominated Bryan Hunt to be the next ambassador to Sierra Leone on March 6 (well before the elections in Sierra Leone). Bryan Hunt’s nomination is pending final confirmation by the US congress, and that process can take some time, so we do not at this time know when Ambassador Reimer will depart, and when the nominee for the next Ambassador will arrive. 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 publically back in March.
Sarah Van Horn
Public Affairs Officer
U.S. Embassy Freetown
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WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DIPLOMACY AND DIPLOMATIC APPOINTMENTS AND RECALLS
By Kabs Kanu
Ambassadors are usually on a tour of duty for 4 or 5 years. After that, their tour of duty ends. When this happens, they are either transferred to another station or recalled to the Foreign Ministry.
However, let it be noted that ambassadors pursue the foreign policy objectives of their countries. They do nothing or say nothing that is not in consonance with the foreign policy objectives of their countries. Ambassadors do not have their own personal agendas and objectives. Their countries determine the agendas and objectives they follow. They speak only what their countries allow them to speak. So for anybody to blame Ambassador Reimer of interfering in our national politics is preposterous.
Secondly, all ambassadors are to follow the precedents set by the ambassadors they replace.That is why before leaving , the reassigned or recalled ambassador writes what is known as handing over notes . This is a very detailed report on the status of their embassies or high commissions and the host countries –Everything his successor needs to know to guide him . These notes are strictly confidential. Also, before leaving his country, the ambassador is thoroughly briefed about his country’s present foreign policy with reference to the host country.
So, anybody who thinks that a newly arriving ambassador will be coming to chart a different foreign policy course does not understand diplomacy. The new ambassador’s duties will be a continuation of the precedents he met in place. If Ambassador Reimer, from evidence at his disposal , believes that the Sierra Leone election was rigged, his replacement will be inclined to think the same way, based on the evidence he will be presented.
SLPP AND THEIR CHILDISH PROPAGANDA !!
Now, SLPP( Always looking for cheap consolation ) are rejoicing that they removed U.S. Ambassador Reimer.What jokers ! If Ambassador Reimer has been recalled, wait first and see what the new ambassador is coming with before you celebrate Reimer’s reassignment.
Ambassador Hunt (Reimer’s replacement) was nominated by President Biden on March 6th 2023. This was a good THREE MONTHS before the disputed elections.
He had his Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on May 16th 2023. Even after this hearing, the very Senate has been criticizing elections irregularities.
The next ambassador will continue where Reimer stopped.
The kind of deceptive politics that has been set adrift in our country is very unfortunate. It has blanked out rational thinking. People no longer use their brains.
Nobody removed Ambassador Reimer because he flagged the fraudulent elections by the SLPP. His tour of duty simply ended.
