VISA FRAUD SWEEPS 4 AT FOREIGN AFFAIRS
…Ministry Recalls Diplomats, Orders ACC Probe
Hon. Mohamed Rahman Swarray- Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Sidi Tunis- Former ECOWAS Speaker
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has suspended four senior officials, ordered the immediate recall of two diplomats from their overseas postings and referred a controversial visa-processing matter to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), following an internal investigation that uncovered serious administrative and procedural deficiencies within the Ministry.
The sweeping administrative measures, announced in an official press release dated Monday, October 12, 2026, follow the submission of a report by an Investigative Committee established to examine allegations surrounding the misuse of official Ministry documentation for visa purposes during a September 2023 visa-processing exercise reported by Hon. Mohamed Sidie Tunis.
According to the Ministry, the investigation exposed significant weaknesses in administrative and consular procedures, document verification and authorisation, supervisory oversight and institutional controls, raising serious questions about accountability and the integrity of official documentation within Sierra Leone’s diplomatic establishment.
Following a review of the Committee’s findings, the Ministry’s management approved the immediate suspension of four officials believed to have been connected to the administrative processes under investigation.
Those suspended are Mr. Alieu Badara Mansaray, Head of Chancery at Sierra Leone’s 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 of Foreign Affairs; Ms. Isatu Joelyn Jalloh, Senior Assistant Secretary at the Ministry; and Ms. Shamit Aminata Tarawallie, Second Secretary at Sierra Leone’s Embassy in Ireland.
In addition to their suspensions, management ordered the immediate withdrawal of Mr. Mansaray and Ms. Tarawallie from their respective diplomatic postings in Algeria and Ireland.
The decision represents a significant administrative shake-up within the Ministry, particularly as it affects officials serving both at headquarters and in Sierra Leone’s overseas diplomatic missions.
More significantly, the Ministry has directed the Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the Committee’s report and supporting evidence within its statutory mandate, potentially opening the door to further legal or disciplinary proceedings depending on the outcome of the ACC’s investigation.
Although the Ministry did not disclose the full details of the alleged misuse of official documentation, its acknowledgement of deficiencies in verification, authorisation and supervisory mechanisms points to weaknesses in the internal systems responsible for safeguarding the integrity of diplomatic and consular operations.
The development also raises broader questions about how official Ministry documents were processed during the September 2023 exercise, whether established procedures were properly followed and why the identified institutional weaknesses were not detected or addressed earlier.
However, the Ministry was careful to emphasise that the suspensions and recalls should not be interpreted as findings of criminal wrongdoing or final determinations of individual responsibility.
“These measures do not constitute findings of criminal wrongdoing or final determinations of individual responsibility,” the Ministry stated, adding that further action would depend on the ACC’s findings, applicable law and decisions by the competent authorities.
In another significant development, management has directed the Ministry to issue a formal written apology to Hon. Mohamed Sidie Tunis for procedural failures within its systems and any resulting prejudice.
The decision to apologise formally to the former Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament represents an acknowledgement by the Ministry that shortcomings in its internal processes may have adversely affected him.
It also marks an important development in a matter that has now progressed from an internally reported visa-processing controversy to an investigation involving Sierra Leone’s principal anti-corruption institution.
The Ministry’s decision to involve the ACC signals its intention to subject the Committee’s findings to independent statutory scrutiny rather than confining the matter exclusively to internal administrative action.
Nevertheless, several important questions remain unanswered, including the precise nature of the alleged misuse of official documentation, the extent of the procedural failures, the individual roles of the suspended officials and whether the investigation will establish any violations of anti-corruption laws.
These issues are expected to become clearer as the ACC examines the report and supporting evidence.
Meanwhile, the Ministry has announced measures to strengthen its administrative and consular safeguards, promising full cooperation with the Anti-Corruption Commission and further public updates as appropriate.
It reaffirmed its commitment to accountability, due process and the protection of Sierra Leone’s diplomatic and consular integrity.
The latest development places renewed attention on governance and oversight within the Foreign Affairs Ministry, where the handling of official correspondence, diplomatic documentation and visa-related processes requires strict compliance with established procedures.
With four officials suspended, two overseas diplomats recalled, a formal apology ordered and the ACC now tasked with investigating the matter, the controversy has entered a critical new phase.
The outcome of the ACC investigation will ultimately determine whether the deficiencies identified by the Ministry’s internal committee amount solely to administrative failures or warrant further action under Sierra Leonean law.