By Alhassan Spear Kamara Guinea, Conakry.
The Sierra Leonean Ambassador to Guinea, His Excellency Alimamy Hassan Bangura has said in Conakry that he is not moved by the series of social media accusations peddled by few disgruntled members of the main opposition All Peoples Congress party against him. One of the accusations is that the Embassy in Conakry, Guinea is not doing anything to ensure that the 22 Sierra Leoneans currently detained at the Surete Central Prisons in Conakry are released.
He said he is aware of the 22 Sierra Leoneans in the Guinean detention facility, but disclosed that they have worked very hard to get them released. He said he has visited them in detention, adding that frantic efforts are being made to get them out, but however noted that it is a process, of which President Bio is very much aware, as during his visit to Guinea, he personally raised the matter with his Guinean counterpart.
Ambassador Bangura furthered that when the Guinean authorities closed the borders earlier this year prior to their elections, hundreds of Sierra Leoneans were arrested, but through the intervention of the Embassy, most of them were unconditionally released. However, the situation of the 22 Sierra Leoneans in custody is different. He assured Sierra Leoneans that they will soon be released.
Ambassador Bangura continued that in resolving some issues, they use the Sierra Leone Nationals Union in Guinea and provide resources and logistics to facilitate their interventions, noting that cases that the Union is unable to resolve, the Embassy intervenes promptly. ‘‘I have succeeded in mediating in a lot of these issues since I took up office here…My leadership style cuts across the board, as I have mediated in a lot of issues concerning Sierra Leonean nationals resident here in Guinea”, Ambassador Bangura said.
He noted that he has a very cordial relationship with the Guinean authorities, adding that discussions with the Guinean authorities are ongoing and called on his compatriots living in Guinea to be law-abiding and peaceful.
