By Kemo Cham
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) of the United Kingdom has named a new High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Politico has learnt.
Simon Mustard, who will replace Guy Warrington, is expected to assume office in September, according to a press statement.
The statement said Mr Warrington will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment.
Mustard, a former police officer, joined the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 2001 and has since then served at various roles across the world, from London to Central America, US, Middle East and Africa.
Until his appointment as head of the Freetown Mission, Mustard was the Special Envoy for the African Great Lakes and Head of Southern and Central Africa Department of the FCO, in which capacity he has worked alongside envoys from the African Union, United Nations, United States, the European External Action Service and from other European States with interests in the region.
He has also served as Deputy Head of Mission in Jordan from 2013 until 2016 and High Commissioner in Malawi from 2016 to 2017.
When leaves office at the end of August, Warrington will have ended a three year tour of duty in Freetown.
The UK, a former colonial master of Sierra Leone, is leading aid provider for the country. But the two countries intermittently had tough relations, most recently before and during the 2018 general elections.
The former administration of Ernest Bai Koroma accused the UK of involvement in an international plot to effect a regime change policy. The then APC-led administration claimed Mr Warrington was used to implement the policy.
APC, which is now the main opposition, even called for his recall.
© 2019 Politico Online
