EU Clarification Contradicts Chief Minister’s Claims on European Parliament Letter
By S.B
During the launch of EuroCham at Country Lodge, Chief Minister David Sengeh was given the podium to speak, an opportunity he used to dismiss as fake the letter reportedly written by Members of the European Parliament calling for sanctions against Sierra Leone.
In his remarks, he stated: “When we see messages from our detractors yesterday sharing fake news that the EU Parliament has written a letter to the European Commission, it is our responsibility to hold those people accountable and debunk fake news. It is our responsibility to stop it before it spreads. A 50-year relationship is not based on perception, allegations, rumours, fearmongering, misinformation, or news headlines. The relationship between the EU and Sierra Leone is based on mutual respect.”
He further asserted that the partnership between Sierra Leone and the European Union is not based on threats from any member country.
Clarifying what Chief Minister David Sengeh and Information Minister Chernor Bah had described as fake news, the EU Mission in Sierra Leone issued a statement on its official platform, stating:
“In the past few days, many social media posts and articles quoted and copied part of a letter from the European Parliament and quickly drew conclusions that require clarification. The letter reflects opinions expressed by two Members of the European Parliament on Sierra Leone and EU–Sierra Leone relations. The European Parliament has not adopted any formal position through a resolution.”
The EU statement neither described the letter as fake nor denied its existence. Instead, it clarified that the correspondence represented the views of two Members of the European Parliament and did not constitute an official position adopted by the European Parliament as an institution.
The clarification has generated public debate, particularly after senior government officials had categorically dismissed reports about the letter as false, while the EU Mission acknowledged its existence but distinguished it from an official parliamentary resolution.
