Sierra Leone Ambassador to Guinea Returns Amid Cocaine Scandal

Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Guinea, Alimamy Hassan Bangura, is on his way to Freetown, accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Timothy Kabba, following his release from house arrest in Conakry.

Ambassador Bangura had been confined for nearly three weeks in Guinea as part of an ongoing investigation into a cocaine trafficking case linked to the Sierra Leonean diplomatic mission.

During the MOIC weekly press briefing, the Minister of Information disclosed that Sierra Leone and Guinea have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for a joint judicial investigation into the cocaine case.

He further stated that the Minister of Foreign Affairs was in Guinea this morning to negotiate with Guinean authorities to facilitate the recall of Sierra Leone’s Ambassador, as requested by the government of  Sierra Leone.

The controversy erupted after Guinean authorities intercepted a vehicle belonging to the Sierra Leonean Embassy carrying a substantial quantity of cocaine. Additionally, authorities reportedly discovered $100,000 in cash allegedly tied to the ambassador, further deepening the scandal.

The case has strained diplomatic relations between Sierra Leone and Guinea, prompting calls for transparency regarding the involvement of Sierra Leonean officials. As Ambassador Bangura arrives in Freetown, all eyes will be on the government’s next steps in addressing this unfolding