By Umaru Fofana
Sierra Leone government has reacted concernedly to the publication yesterday by the US government of a list of 57 individuals and 42 entities whose “property and interests in property” have been blocked for allegedly financing Hizbollah in Lebanon.
According to the US federal registry, they include seven Sierra Leoneans of Lebanese origin or businesses linked to them.
Presidential spokesman, Abdulai Bayraytay told Politico that
“government is very concerned about this development” not least because the country was a member of the AU’s Peace and Security Council which aims to fight “global terrorism”.
He said Sierra Leone would continue to collaborate with the international community in the area of information-sharing on this and related matters.
Those individuals and entities named are Ali Ibrahim AL-WATFA a.k.a. IBRAHIM Al Hajj Alie of 26 Malama Thomas Street, in Freetown, KAFAK ENTERPRISES LIMITED in Nigeria and Sierra Leone, FAWAZ, Fouzi Reda Darwish, FAWAZ Mustapha Reda Darwish born in Kono with SL Passport No. 0168459 and TAJCO a.k.a. GRAND STORES at 30 Sani Abacha Street, Freetown.
Asked whether they would revoke the passports or close the businesses of those named, Bayraytay said the possibility existed for that but that they would hold talks in the coming hours with the ministry of internal affairs, Office for National Security and the police to discuss “the concrete stuff to do”.
(C) Politico 19/05/16
