In a statement shared on X (formerly known as Twitter), Chief Minister David Sengeh underscored the enduring bond of respect and shared aspirations between Sierra Leone and the United States.
Sengeh emphasized that the relationship between nations transcends individual egos and specific initiatives.
“Sierra Leone and the United States have a deep history of mutual respect and shared aspirations for our people – we’re committed to their dreams and hopes. The relationship between our country and any other state is bigger than any single individual’s ego or specific program,” the Chief Minister posted.
This declaration comes in the wake of a recent incident involving Radio Democracy 98.1, a prominent radio station in Sierra Leone.
During the Wednesday morning broadcast, the station experienced a temporary disruption, precisely when a pre-recorded interview featuring US Ambassador David Reimer was scheduled to air. The interview, which had been recorded the previous day, aimed to address concerns surrounding Sierra Leone’s recent general election.
In a leaked portion of the interview, verified by the US Embassy, Ambassador Reimer expressed Washington’s reservations about the integrity and credibility of the results announced by the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL) for the disputed June 24 vote.
He highlighted significant disparities between the ECSL’s announced outcomes and parallel vote tabulations, as well as inconsistencies flagged by both domestic and international election observers.
Reimer’s comments further emphasized that these discrepancies raised doubts about the legitimacy of the official election results.
International observers had previously pointed out statistical inconsistencies and criticized the lack of transparency during the ballot counting process. A national observation group additionally highlighted noteworthy disparities in the reported voter outcomes for presidential, parliamentary, and local council elections.
