The Public Affairs Officer of the United States Embassy in Freetown, Madam Sarah Van Horne has clarified that the proposed Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Bryan Hunt’s nomination is pending final confirmation by the US Congress.

She made the clarification following news making the rounds on Social media that the current  Ambassador David Reimer has been replaced by Bryan Hunt.

In her disclaimer, she states “Dear media colleagues, we’ve seen some misinformation online that we wanted to fact-check. The White House nominated Bryan Hunt to be the next ambassador to Sierra Leone on March 6 (well before the elections in Sierra Leone). Bryan Hunt’s nomination is pending final confirmation by the US congress, and that process can take some time, so we do not at this time know when Ambassador Reimer will depart, and when the nominee for the next Ambassador will arrive. Regardless of when it happens, this transition is part of the normal cycle of Ambassador arrivals and departures, which typically occurs every couple of years. It is not related to any events in Sierra Leone, and was announced publicly back in March”

The nominated Bryan Hunt is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister Counselor, currently serves as the Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to the United States Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, IL. Prior to that, Mr. Hunt, served as Director, Office of South Sudan and Sudan, Bureau of African Affairs, Department of State, Washington, D.C.

Hunt also served as the State Department’s Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Africa and the Sudans. Mr. Hunt’s overseas leadership roles include as Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassies in Maputo, Mozambique, Georgetown in Guyana and Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea.