DEMARCHE: SIERRA LEONE WILL RECOGNIZE KOSOVO

C O N F I D E N T I A L FREETOWN 000222 SIPDIS DEPTARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO EUR/SCE KOSOVO DESK OFFICER DANIELA CARCANI. E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/13/2023 TAGS: PREL UNMIK PGOV SL SUBJECT: DEMARCHE: SIERRA LEONE WILL RECOGNIZE KOSOVO REF: A. SECSTATE 48545 ¶B. FREETOWN 85 ¶C. FREETOWN 53 Classified By: Ambassador June Carter Perry, Reasons 1.4 b/d 1 (C) On May 12, DCM met spoke with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations Zainab Bangura during a government event to urge Sierra Leone to recongnize the independence of Kosovo. Minister Bangura responded that she had just received instructions from Sierra Leone President Koroma to proceed with recognition of Kosovo's independence, but could not provide an immediate time line of when Sierra Leone would make the announcement. She stated she had to review the correct procedures for formal recognition, and was uncertain if it would require an act of Parliament. ¶2. (C) As per reftel B, Minister Bangura had indicated to Ambassador previously that Sierra Leone would wait until others recognized Kosovo before the Sierra Leone Government would do so. Our guess is that the OIC's eventual declaration has given Sierra Leone the cover needed to take eventual action. ¶3. (U) Post will report further plans to implement this decision by Sierra Leone to recognize Kosovo's independence. PERRY