The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has established an internal committee to investigate the alleged misuse of official ministry documentation in a United States visa application linked to former ECOWAS Parliament Speaker and SLPP Member of Parliament, Sidie Mohamed Tunis.

In a statement issued on Saturday, September 5, 2026, the Ministry said it considers the allegations serious and has tasked the committee with reviewing relevant documentation and procedures, establishing the facts surrounding the matter, and submitting its findings and recommendations to the Minister.

The investigation follows a formal request by Tunis for the Ministry to urgently investigate allegations that an individual identified as Chapator Bah was presented to the United States Embassy in Freetown as his Executive Assistant during his tenure as Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament.

Tunis said he was questioned about Bah by a U.S. consular officer during a recent visa interview. According to the former ECOWAS Parliament Speaker, the officer informed him that Bah had obtained a U.S. visa in 2023 after being presented as the “Executive Assistant to the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament.”

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Tunis, however, denied ever employing or knowing anyone by that name. “I do not know, and have never known anyone by that name,” Tunis said.

The SLPP lawmaker has requested the Foreign Ministry to establish how an alleged note verbale originating from the Ministry was used to facilitate Bah’s visa application.

Tunis said the allegations could damage his reputation and integrity, as well as the image of Sierra Leone and the ECOWAS Parliament. He further warned that failure to resolve the matter within seven working days would compel him to pursue legal action to protect himself from the allegations.

As part of its investigation, the Ministry said the committee would examine the procedures and safeguards governing the preparation, authorization and transmission of official correspondence, including visa-related requests.

The Ministry said the review would also help identify potential weaknesses and strengthen institutional controls where necessary.

The investigation is expected to establish how the documentation in question was prepared and transmitted, who authorized it and the circumstances under which the individual was presented to the U.S. Embassy in connection with Tunis.