Former Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament and Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) Member of Parliament for Pujehun District, Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis, has called for an urgent investigation into circumstances surrounding an alleged 2023 United States visa application reportedly made in his name and that of a person described as his Executive Assistant.
The controversy emerged after Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis was reportedly informed by the United States Embassy in Freetown that he did not qualify for a visa to travel to the United States, despite being a high-profile official who has travelled to the country on previous occasions.
According to information made available, a Note Verbale was allegedly transmitted by Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to the US Embassy in Freetown in 2023, requesting visas for Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis and an individual identified as Chabatan Bah, who was reportedly presented as his Executive Assistant.
Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis, however, has strongly denied knowing or ever employing anyone by that name.
According to him, on Thursday, September 3, 2026, he maintained that Chabatan Bah had never served as his Executive Assistant, either during his tenure as Leader of Government Business in Sierra Leone’s Parliament or while serving as Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament.
“I have never employed anyone for that role. In fact, this name is strange to me. I am hearing this name for the first time. I am even wondering whether this so-called Executive Assistant is a male or a female. I don’t know this person,” Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis was quoted as saying.
The development has prompted the prominent ruling party lawmaker and SLPP flagbearer aspirant to formally request the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to launch a thorough investigation into the matter.
Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis wants the investigation to establish who allegedly prepared or facilitated the diplomatic correspondence, how his name was used and who authorized the purported visa request involving the individual identified as Chabatan Bah.
The matter has raised questions that could require clarification from the relevant authorities, particularly concerning the procedures governing the issuance and authentication of Notes Verbales for official overseas travel.
Sources cited in connection with the matter further alleged that Chabatan Bah was subsequently issued a US visa and travelled to the United States but did not return to Sierra Leone. That claim had not been independently verified at the time of publication.
When contacted for comment, a spokesperson for the US Embassy in Freetown reportedly declined to discuss the individual case, stating: “We do not comment on individual visa applications.”
The controversy comes at a critical time for Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis, who is reportedly included on the official Government of Sierra Leone delegation scheduled to travel to New York for this month’s United Nations General Assembly.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has not publicly responded to the allegations or Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis’ request for an investigation by press time.
An official investigation could help establish whether Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis’ identity or official position was improperly used, who was responsible for the 2023 diplomatic communication and whether established procedures were followed.
Until those questions are answered, Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis maintains that he had no knowledge of the individual reportedly presented to US authorities as his Executive Assistant and has called on the Foreign Ministry to establish the facts surrounding the matter.
