US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, has accused the Sierra Leone Government of violating provisions of an agreement under which the country agreed to host and resettle third-country nationals deported from the United States.

Senator Shaheen said there is “credible evidence” that Sierra Leone has failed to uphold certain commitments under the agreement, despite receiving a $1.6 million grant from the United States to support the implementation of the programme.

“There is now credible evidence that Sierra Leone is violating this commitment,” Senator Shaheen noted.

Her remarks have raised concerns over Sierra Leone’s compliance with the terms of the agreement and the use of the financial support provided by the United States.

Meanwhile, Ambassador to Sierra Leone-designate Daniel Travis acknowledged that he was not fully up to date on the extent to which the Sierra Leone Government and opposition have progressed in implementing the recommendations of the Agreement for National Unity.

Travis, however, assured that advancing the agreement would be among his priorities once he assumes his diplomatic responsibilities in Freetown.