By Kadijatu Bangura, Reporter D.S
FREETOWN — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has suspended four senior officials with immediate effect over alleged procedural failures linked to a disputed U.S. visa processing exercise involving SLPP Member of Parliament, Hon. Mohamed Sidie Tunis.
In a press release issued Monday, the Ministry said its investigative committee has concluded its review of the September 2023 incident and has forwarded its findings and supporting evidence to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for further investigation.
According to the Ministry, the probe uncovered serious shortcomings in consular administration, document verification and authorization, supervisory oversight and internal controls.
The suspended officials are Alieu Badara Mansaray, Head of Chancery at Sierra Leone’s Embassy in Algeria and former Head of the Consular Unit; Thomas Alfred Sengeh, Acting Deputy Secretary; Isatu Joelyn Jalloh, Senior Assistant Secretary; and Shamit Aminata Tarawallie, Second Secretary at Sierra Leone’s Embassy in Ireland.
The Ministry also ordered the immediate withdrawal of Mansaray and Tarawallie from their overseas postings.
As part of its administrative actions, the Ministry said it will formally apologize to Hon. Tunis over the procedural failures and any resulting prejudice. It did not disclose the wording or timing of the apology.
The Ministry however clarified that the suspensions do not amount to a finding of criminal guilt, noting that individual culpability will be determined by the ACC under its legal mandate.
“The Ministry will strengthen its administrative and consular safeguards and cooperate fully with the Commission,” the release stated, adding that further public updates will be issued in due course.
The case stems from a September 2023 visa-processing exercise and related matters reported by Hon. Tunis. Full details of the investigative report were not made public.
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