New US Ambassador Presents Letters of Credence to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Commits to Heighten Sierra Leone US Relationship
Strategic Communications Directorate
September 11, 2023
MFAIC Building, Tower Hill, Freetown
Bryan David Hunt, the new US Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Monday, presented copies of his letters of Credence and letter of recall of his predecessor to the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mrs Francess Alghali.
New US Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Bryan David Hunt(right) Monday presented copies of his letters of credence to Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mrs Francess Alghali (left). The short ceremony took place in the Minister’s Tower Hill office before the Ambassador was accompanied to State House where he met with President Bio to conclude the diplomatic gesture.
The Minister thanked the new ambassador and wished him a successful tenure, assuring him that the doors of her ministry will always be open to receive him. “Please feel free to contact us at any time if there are any issues you would want to discuss with us bilaterally”, she said, further affirming that the American Embassy is assured of cooperation at all times, especially from the Director General whom the minister described as “a diplomat of long standing” who has also worked at the Sierra Leone embassy in the US. “Please be assured that you have friends in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and we look forward to working with you.
She hoped the new ambassador would continue with the work of bilateral relations and projects that have been done so far and those yet to be pursued, especially on issues of mutual benefits to both Sierra Leone and the US Government.
Ambassador Hunt thanked the minister further pledging to continue to strengthen the US Sierra Leone bilateral relationship by working with the Deputy Minister together with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. “I have every confidence that working with you and the minister, we will be successful in doing that and expanding the relationship between the United States and Sierra Leone”, he said.
“I Certainly look forward to working with you and the Director General particularly as you become a member of the United Nations Security Council in January. I think that will only heighten the importance of the Republic of Sierra Leone and the United States of America. And I’m sure we will have a very cooperative relationship, especially given the Director General’s expertise from her time in New York”, Hunt said.
The Minister together with other senior officials of the ministry later accompanied Ambassador Hunt to State House where he presented his credentials to President, Brig. Rtd. Julius Maada Bio. President Bio welcomed Ambassador Hunt and said that Sierra Leone and the US have strong bilateral relationship and that he looked forward to broadening and deepening the relationship. The two had further discussions on issues of strengthening democracy and collaboration as Sierra Leone looks forward to take her seat in the non-permanent category at the UN Security Council.
In attendance were several ministers of government and other state dignitaries.
Hunt was publicly sworn-in as the Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of Sierra Leone on August 23, 2023. Prior to his current appointment, Ambassador Hunt served as Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to the U.S. Transportation Command from July 2022 to July 2023.
