Directorate of Strategic Communications
MFAIC Building, Tower Hill, Freetown
29 November, 2023

The US Government has unequivocally condemned the Freetown November 26th Security Breach, calling it an attack on democracy, Ambassador Bryan David Hunt says. The Ambassador congratulated the government of Sierra Leone for stopping “those who wanted to avert democracy and bring chaos to Sierra Leone”.

The US position was made clear during the ambassador’s courtesy call on Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Musa Timothy Kabba, on Wednesday, at his Tower Hill Office.

Ambassador Hunt said the American Government stands with the Sierra Leone Government for taking the stance to repel, pursue, arrest, and hold accountable all the dissidents involved in the failed coup.
Hunt told the minister, that he has on behalf of the American Government, congratulated Major General Dauda Alpha, the Joint Forces Commander of the Republic of Sierra Leone’s Armed Forces through a telephone call. He said he congratulated the commander and his men for standing tall to defend the assault on democracy. The US government was pleased with the military’s dedication and gallantry in repelling the assailants, he emphasized. Hunt said the American government will support the government of Sierra Leone with investigations to ensure that the assailants account for their actions.

The American government will continue to stand with the Government and people of Sierra Leone as they support the Sierra Leone Government’s action to search, cordon, arrest, and prosecute all the assailants.

On another note, Ambassador Hunt said Sierra Leone remained on track for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). The United States Embassy in Sierra Leone, he said, will continue to work with the Government of Sierra Leone to ensure the compact valued at around $480 Million is realized.

He said Sierra Leone as a non-permanent Member of the UN Security Council, has a key role to play in the peace and stability of West Africa and beyond. Hence, the United States encourages President Julius Maada Bio to play a critical role in resolving the political crises in West Africa.
He called on Sierra Leone to join the United States and other nations in endorsing the Declaration on Atlantic Cooperation so that Sierra Leone could become a full member.

Minister Kabba welcomed the ambassador and expressed his appreciation on behalf of the Government of Sierra Leone. He appreciated the United State’s stance on democracy as well as law and order in Sierra Leone, especially for demonstrating early support for the Government of Sierra Leone on the unfortunate events of November 26. He stressed that the Government of Sierra Leone will continue to encourage the security forces to act within the confines of the law as they engage the remnants of the insurgents who are still lurking out in the dark.
Kabba said despite the threat to the security situation posed by the insurgents, Sierra Leone will forge ahead with the work of the Electoral Review Committee.
The minister acknowledged the ambassador’s positive overview of Sierra Leone’s fulfillment of the MCC criteria, noting that some detractors were using the MCC to play politics without understanding the progress Sierra Leone has made on the MCC over the years. Kabba said that President Bio’s experience as having been a military leader before and now as a democratic leader places him strategically to play a key role in resolving the political crises in West Africa. He assured the ambassador that Sierra Leone would endorse the Declaration on the Atlantic Cooperation.