The opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) has called on the United Nations to replace its Executive Representative of the Secretary-General with someone as “competent” as the outgoing Michael von der Schulenburg.
“We think that Schulenburg was an asset to this country. We hope the UN will replace him with someone as competent and passionate for Sierra Leone as he was,” said Sulaiman Banja Tejan-Sie, National Secretary General of the party.
The situation of Mr. Schulenburg is shrouded in controversy. Two schools of thought pervade recent reports. One indicates that the Executive Representative of Secretary General (ERSG) and Head of UNIPSIL since 2007 is being recalled by New York because of the end of stated tenure in the country, while another suggests that he has been declared persona non grata by the Government of Sierra Leone and asked the UN to replace him.
Government has however denied the speculation which has to do with the suggestion that he has been declared persona non grata.
“Government wishes to make it categorically clear that such allusions are not true, and that any decision to recall or transfer Mr. Schulenburg is purely a United Nations affair,” said a government press release widely circulated yesterday.
UNIPSIL spokesperson, Peter Ngu Tayong wouldn’t comment on why Schulenburg is leaving, but said a press release from New York would be issued soon.
Tejan-Sie complimented the outgoing ERSG for his contributions toward the sustainability of Sierra Leone’s democracy and hard-won peace.
The SLPP scribe fully recognized the service rendered by Schulenburg especially when the country was in its darkest moments immediately following the 2007, a moment he noted, that the country was facing yet another dark side of her history.
By Poindexter Sama
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