Information Minister Bah Dismisses Circulating EU Parliament Letter on Sierra Leone as “100% Fake”

Minister of Information and Civic Education Chernor Bah has dismissed as “100 percent fake” a document circulating on social media that claims to be an official communication from the European Parliament concerning Sierra Leone’s alleged role as a cocaine transit hub and safe haven for convicted EU criminals.

Responding to public concerns on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, Bah said clarification was needed in the interest of informed civic debate.

He explained that while the European Parliament has 720 members and any individual member can write a letter or issue a statement, such correspondence does not constitute the Parliament’s official position unless it is formally tabled, debated, and adopted through established procedures.

“The European Parliament has 720 members. Anyone can write a letter or issue a statement. Until it is tabled, debated and resolved, it is not the position of the Parliament. It remains that member’s individual opinion or desire,” the Minister stated.

Bah said he had consulted official channels to verify how the European Parliament communicates its positions and confirmed that no such action had been taken against Sierra Leone. “So yes, the letter circulated, cited and I was asked about as from the European Parliament was and is 100 percent fake,” he said.

The document in question, dated June 5, 2026, was purportedly addressed to the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, and the European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Sikela. It alleged that Sierra Leone serves as a logistical hub for cocaine destined for Europe and harbours EU citizens evading prosecution.

It also called on the European Commission to use development funding and potential sanctions as leverage to encourage extradition of suspected drug traffickers and to strengthen measures against transnational organised crime.

The controversy comes amid recent international reports of a record cocaine seizure linked to a vessel that allegedly departed from West Africa, and ongoing discussions between Sierra Leone and international partners on combating drug trafficking and transnational organised crime.

Bah urged the public not to lose sight of the broader relationship between Sierra Leone and the European Union, noting that the government had recently held a productive public-private partnership engagement with the EU in Sierra Leone aimed at promoting investment and strengthening bilateral ties. He acknowledged that challenges exist on both sides but stressed that the EU Parliament had not issued any letter, resolution, or threat against the country.

“We certainly have challenges and areas both sides could do better on. But no, the EU Parliament has not issued any letter, resolution or threat against Sierra Leone,” he emphasized.