Government DID NOT Lie About Ambassador’s Recall

Claim: The Government of Sierra Leone lied about Alimamy Bangura's return to Freetown

Verdict: FALSE

Context: A claim shared on Facebook accuses the Sierra Leonean government of misleading the public regarding the return of the country’s Ambassador to Guinea, Alimamy Bangura. The post suggests that contrary to the government’s earlier statements, the ambassador had not yet returned and was only recently released by Guinean authorities after a diplomatic intervention.

Evidence: The official statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation, dated January 16, 2025, clearly states:

“The Government has urgently recalled Sierra Leone's Ambassador to Guinea, Mr. Alimamy Bangura, to Freetown to provide a full account of the incident.”

A recall does not indicate that an ambassador is already in the country; it is merely the first step in repatriating a diplomat assigned to a foreign nation. The process typically involves:

Official Notification: A formal recall notice issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) or head of state.

Diplomatic Communication: The host country is informed through diplomatic channels, often via a note verbale.

Internal Briefing: The ambassador is instructed on the recall’s reasons and any necessary obligations.

Handover Process: The ambassador may need to finalize diplomatic duties or hand over responsibilities.

Departure & Return: The ambassador returns home for debriefing and potential reassignment or other official actions.

Viral False Claim

Furthermore, Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, reiterated multiple times that the ambassador was not yet in the country but had been recalled. The recall was to facilitate his explanation to authorities in Freetown regarding the situation involving an embassy vehicle impounded in Guinea.

On January 13, 2025, the Government of Guinea informed the Sierra Leonean Government that a vehicle belonging to the Sierra Leone Embassy in Conakry had been seized. The driver and another occupant were detained on suspicion of possessing substances suspected to be cocaine.

Conclusion: The claim that the government lied about the ambassador’s return is false. No official statement suggested he was already in Sierra Leone at the time of the recall. The government accurately described the situation and the recall process was in progress.

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