The rumored visit of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Freetown has been refuted by the Public Affairs Department of the United States Embassy in Freetown.

“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.

It was previously rumored that Antony Blinken will visit Sierra Leone on January 23rd, 2024, according to a leaked letter from the Office of the Chief Minister.

The letter, written by Kenei Lamin, Permanent Secretary of the Chief Minister’s Office, requested 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.

According to Journalist Amadu Lamrana Bah, a State House source has confirmed that they have received correspondence informing them that the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield will be coming to Freetown from Monrovia, Liberia where she is expected to attend the inauguration ceremony of the President-elect, Joseph Boakai on January 22nd, 2024.

The United States has refused to congratulate President Julius Maada Bio since his re-election in 2023. 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.