…As SWAL Veteran Urges President Boakai

(Monrovia, Liberia), Questions are swirling over the status of Alioune Kebe, Liberia’s Ambassador-at-Large for Youth & Sports Development, as speculation grows about whether he was formally axed following a national review of diplomatic appointments.

Kebe, a Senegalese national recently naturalized, was appointed Ambassador-at-Large for Youth and Sports Development in April 2024. While the appointment letter, dated April 10, 2024, was confirmed authentic by Presidential Press Secretary Kula B. Fofana, it was never publicly posted on the Executive Mansion’s official channels.

The letter commended Kebe for his “dedication and commitment to the development of sports in Liberia and invaluable contribution to the training of youth,” and urged him to “demonstrate utmost integrity” in carrying out his duties.

Trouble began later in October 2024, when President Boakai issued a sweeping order canceling all Ambassadors-at-Large, Special Envoys, and Trade and Investment Representatives. A Special Committee led by Ambassador George W. Wallace, Jr., found that several appointments, including Kebe’s, had bypassed formal vetting procedures required under Liberia’s Foreign Service Manual and Foreign Relations Law. The Committee recommended that all recalled diplomats be reassessed to ensure Liberia is represented abroad by qualified and credible individuals.

Since the vetting process, there is no record of Kebe being reappointed or reassigned, and yet reports indicate he continues to present himself as Ambassador-at-Large. Sources within the government suggest that Kebe’s legal entanglements with some French investors which led to a litigation over forgery and criminal coercion the Monrovia Magisterial Court, may have influenced the decision not to reinstate him.

In response to the uncertainty, Veteran sports journalist and FIFA-trained D. Webster Cassell has urged President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to make a clear and transparent decision, emphasizing the importance of integrity and competence in the role.

Mr. Cassell the former Sports Editor at The INQUIRER Newspaper stressed the urgency of filling the post with a credible and qualified Liberian.

“As Liberia strengthens its diplomatic service, it is critical that key positions are held by individuals of unquestionable integrity. The Youth & Sports Ambassador-at-Large portfolio is very important to remain vacant.”

Public scrutiny is mounting as Liberians await clarity from the Executive Mansion on Kebe’s status. The story surrounding his appointment and alleged misuse of office including claims that he intimidated a French investor over a mining venture, continues to fuel debate over transparency and accountability in Liberia’s diplomatic corps.

Recently, the Monrovia Magisterial Court dismissed Kebe’s lawsuit of forgery and criminal coercion case filed against businessman Bertrand M. Franquet, citing civil jurisdiction and the defendant’s right to speedy trial. The dismissal has further fueled  debate over Kebe’s fitness for a role that demands integrity and accountability.

By: Alfred Morris