Claim: 15,000 ECOMOG Troops Begin to Arrive: US Cargo Lands Military Vehicles, Top ECOMOG Officers to Protect Tripartite Outcome
Verdict: FALSE
Context:
A viral claim on social media alleges that 15,000 ECOMOG troops have started arriving in Sierra Leone, with US cargo planes delivering military vehicles to protect the tripartite outcome. This claim has caused significant concern and confusion among the public.
Evidence:
The Sierra Check team conducted a thorough investigation into this claim, speaking with multiple sources within the Sierra Leonean security apparatus.
Abdulai Caulker, National Security Coordinator (ONS), firmly denied the claim in a telephone conversation. He stated, "This is false and mischievous, but we would not like to respond to every claim that we see on social media. We are saving our energy to do our work for the people of Sierra Leone."
Francis Langumba Keili, Chief of Staff (ONS), also confirmed the falsity of the claim. He emphasized that the ONS, which oversees all security sector institutions including the Military and the Sierra Leone Police, has no knowledge of such an operation.
Abdul Karim Will, Spokesperson for ONS, also refuted the claim "This claim is entirely false. The proposed deployment of the ECOWAS Mission in Sierra Leone aims to support the government in stabilizing peace and national security, and it has no connection to the Tripartite outcomes or recommendations. Moreover, the ECOWAS team has not yet arrived in the country. Additionally, there are no US military aircraft in Sierra Leone's airspace. This misinformation appears to be a deliberate attempt to mislead the public."
All officials including a military source unequivocally denied any deployment of ECOMOG troops or US military vehicles as described in the claim. Their statements are supported by the lack of any official announcements or corroborating evidence from credible sources.
Conclusion:
The claim that 15,000 ECOMOG troops are arriving in Sierra Leone, accompanied by US military cargo, is false. Official statements from senior security officials, Abdulai Caulker and Francis Langumba Keili, have debunked this misinformation.
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