Sierra Leone is not among the four African countries listed for a visit by the US Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken, this month. Blinken’s African tour is scheduled to take place between January 21 and 26, 2024.

The visit is a part of the US’s high-level engagement with Africa, with the Secretary of State planning to travel to Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Angola during this diplomatic mission.

While reaffirming its sustained commitment to high-level U.S. engagement with Africa, a statement by the State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller reads:

“Throughout the trip, the Secretary will highlight how the United States has accelerated the U.S.-Africa partnership since the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, including in areas such as climate, food, and health security.

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“He will also emphasize our future-focused economic partnership, and how the United States is investing in infrastructure in Africa to boost two-way trade, create jobs at home and on the continent, and help Africa compete in the global marketplace.

“Additionally, the Secretary will advance security partnerships based on shared values such as respect for human rights, promotion of democracy, and expansion of the rule of law. He will reaffirm U.S. commitment to our coastal West African partners through the Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability, U.S. partnership with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to address regional challenges, and U.S. efforts to support African leadership in de-escalating tensions and adopting diplomatic solutions to the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.”

It is believed that Sierra Leone was among the African countries Blinken was originally scheduled to visit but the decision was changed for unknown reasons.

On Monday, a leaked letter from the Office of Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister said that Blinken would visit Sierra Leone on January 23rd, 2024. This data correlates with the schedule for Blinken’s African tour.

The letter, written by Kenei Lamin, Permanent Secretary of the Chief Minister’s Office, requests a landing permit for a US military aircraft transporting Secretary Blinken to Freetown International Airport.

“I write to inform you that the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken will arrive at the Freetown International Airport on 23rd January 2024. In view of the above, I hereby request for a Landing permit for the US Military Aircraft that will be used.” the letter addressed to the Director-General of the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (SLCAA) reads.

However, the Public Affairs Department of the United States Embassy in Freetown refuted the contents of the letter. “There is a false rumor that US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is coming to Sierra Leone. This is not true.” the embassy said on Tuesday.

The Sierra Leonean government is currently in the process of repairing its relationship with the United States in the aftermath of the 2023 general elections. As of now, the United States has refused to congratulate President Julius Maada Bio on his re-election. Rather, it expressed concerns regarding the transparency of the election procedures, particularly during the tallying phase.

On August 31, the U.S. State Department imposed visa restrictions on individuals “suspected of undermining Sierra Leone’s democracy,” which encompasses activities like vote manipulation or intimidating election monitors.

The United States also suspended Sierra Leone’s participation in the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact grant but re-selected in 2024 it on condition that the agreement of national unity which followed an inter-party post-election peace dialogue is fully implemented.