Sierra Leone – SENIOR OFFICERS SENT ON LEAVE

ARMY SPOKESMAN SPEAKS  ON THE FOURTEENTH SENIOR OFFICERS THAT WERE SENT ON LEAVE

The spokesman man for the the Republic of Sierra Leone Army Force’s (RSLAF)  Major Yaya Beima,

has said in Freetown Tuesday 25 June 2020 that the retirement of 15 senior military officers including the former Chief of Defence Staff and deputy under the President Bio’s led SLPP government, the action form the military’s is not a novelty.

Major Brima, made this statement in an exclusive interviewed with this writer.

He said in the year 2005 during ex_president Ahmed Tejan Kabba’s regime, 77 officers between the ranks of Brigadier General and second Lieutenant proceeded on terminal leave.

Under the outgone President Ernest Bai Koroma APC regime, he said, 21 senior ranks officers, including the Chief of Defence Staff, Alfred Claude Nelson Williams and other generals were again sent on terminal leave on the approval of the defence council.

Major Yaya Brima, spokesman for RSLAF noted that the 15 officers which include, 8 Brigadier Generals, including the former Chief of Defence  Staff Lt. General Brima Bureh Turay and his dpt., Major General DTO Taluva, 4 Colonels and 2 Lieutenant Colonels now sent on terminal leave was done with the approval of the defence council. When asked what was the reason for the terminal leave?, Major Yaya Brima, said that the reason for their terminal leave is not normally disclosed to the public for security reasons, but strongly affirmed that all retirements, including the  latter are done under the relevant provision of the country’s National Constitution, thus ruling out claims of which hunt and political inclination.

He said the retirees were were promoted to various ranks, after others were sent on terminal leave for diverse reasons, so if their retirements are due under numerous factors, the authorities ougth to do the needful.

Major Yaya Brima, ends that, all retired officers would be receiving their monthly salary until their retirements are due at the end of the year 2020 and shall be entitled to all benefit due  them because they were not dismissed. He assured that promotion will be out soon.

Meanwhile, President Bio, has appointed Major General Sullay Sesay as new Chief of Defence Staff subject to Parliamentary approval and he had already face the Appointment Committee and the Public Service in the Sierra Leone  Parliament.

By Osman Karim Conteh – Freetown, SL