Foreign Affairs Ministry Refers Visa Documentation Misuse To ACC
FREETOWN, October 12, 2026 —
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has suspended four officials as investigation proceeds into the alleged misuse of official ministry documents for visa purposes.
The case is linked to a visa-processing exercise in September 2023 that was reported by Hon. Mohamed Sidie Tunis. In a statement issued in Freetown on Monday, the Ministry said an Investigative Committee established to examine the matter had completed its work and submitted a report.
The committee identified significant deficiencies in administrative and consular procedures, including document verification and authorisation, supervisory oversight, and institutional controls. The Ministry said its Management had reviewed the report and approved interim administrative measures in response.
The suspended officials are: Mr. Alieu Badara Mansaray, Head of Chancery at the Sierra Leone Embassy in Algeria and former Head of the Consular Unit at the time of the reported incident; Mr. Thomas Alfred Sengeh, Acting Deputy Secretary at the Ministry; Ms. Isatu Joelyn Jalloh, Senior Assistant Secretary at the Ministry; and Ms. Shamit Aminata Tarawallie, Second Secretary at the Sierra Leone Embassy in Ireland.
Their suspensions took effect immediately. Management has also ordered the immediate withdrawal of Mansaray and Tarawallie from their respective overseas postings.
The Ministry stressed that the suspensions are interim administrative measures and should not be taken as proof of criminal wrongdoing or as final findings on any individual’s responsibility. It said any further action would depend on the findings of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), the application of relevant laws, and decisions by the appropriate authorities.
The Ministry has referred the Investigative Committee’s report and supporting evidence to the ACC for investigation within the commission’s statutory mandate. It said it would cooperate fully as the inquiry proceeds.
The statement also said the Ministry had directed that a formal written apology be issued to Tunis over procedural failures within its administrative systems and any resulting prejudice.
The referral to the ACC marks a further stage in the Ministry’s response to concerns raised by the committee. While the committee identified weaknesses in the systems governing the handling and approval of documents, the ACC investigation is expected to establish whether the matter involved conduct requiring action under the law. The Ministry has not announced a timetable for the inquiry or provided further details about the documents involved.
The case has drawn attention to the safeguards required in consular work, where official records and authorisations can affect visa applications and the credibility of diplomatic services. The Ministry said it intends to address the shortcomings identified by the committee and strengthen controls across its administrative and consular operations.
It also assured the public that further updates would be provided as appropriate. The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to accountability, due process and the integrity of Sierra Leone’s diplomatic and consular functions.
Until the ACC completes its investigation and competent authorities make any necessary decisions, the Ministry’s measures remain administrative and interim. The outcome of the inquiry will determine whether additional action is warranted.
