In a recent address on the Wake Up Sierra Leone program on AYV, United States Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Bryan David Hunt, emphasized the critical need to maintain a clear distinction between the investigation and dialogue in the aftermath of the November 26th coup.
Ambassador Hunt underscored an ongoing judicial process aimed at identifying those responsible for the coup, emphasizing the imperative of accountability under Sierra Leonean law for any individuals involved.
Expressing his belief that the events of November 26th do not accurately represent the stance of the opposition, Ambassador Hunt stated, “I do not believe that what happened on November 26th reflects the position of the opposition here in Sierra Leone. I don’t believe that any legitimate political actor in Sierra Leone would back what happened on November 26th.”
He further emphasized that if individuals supported the events, they did so in their individual capacity and should be held accountable in their individual voices.
Ambassador Hunt stressed that this should not be used as an excuse to walk away from the ongoing dialogue and agreement.
He highlighted the commitment of the majority on both sides, stating, “The vast majority of the opposition and the vast majority of those on the government side are committed to seeing national unity move forward. They are committed to a democratic political process and abhor what happened on November 26th, the same way that all of us do.”
Clarifying the approach to the investigation, he noted, “When we talk about the investigation for November 26th, we’re talking about investigating and holding accountable individuals for their individual actions. Sierra Leone does not believe in collective punishment, nor does the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. So we do not punish a political party or any organization for the individual actions of its member.”
