Freetown, Sierra Leone – June 19, 2025 – The United States Embassy in Sierra Leone has announced the closure of its offices today, Wednesday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth, a national holiday in the United States.
In a public notice shared on its official social media pages, the Embassy stated: “The U.S. Embassy will be closed for official business today, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth – a U.S. holiday. The embassy will resume operations tomorrow, June 20.”
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, marks a significant moment in American history. It commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, finally received word that they were free—more than two years after U.S. President Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation.
Although the proclamation, signed on January 1, 1863, legally freed enslaved people in Confederate states, it took time for Union forces to enforce the order across the South. When Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston with his troops and delivered the message of freedom, it became a moment of celebration and reflection for African Americans.
Juneteenth has been celebrated for generations within the African American community and was officially recognized as a federal holiday in the United States in 2021.
The U.S. Embassy’s observance of the day in Sierra Leone highlights the importance of recognizing historical struggles for freedom and justice—a message that resonates deeply both in the United States and across nations with shared histories of colonialism and slavery.
Embassy services are expected to resume as normal on Thursday, June 20.
