Social media went overdrive as the massive United States Air Force military aeroplane landed at the Lungi International Airport in Freetown yesterday morning. One version of the social media posts adduced delightedly that the US Air Force plane had come because of the imminent release of the Tripartite Committee recommendations expected to be made public by the June 29 deadline. The other version of the social media information created further mystery. Stakeholders say the plane landed for refuelling. This version is very doubtful.

The social media activists could not ascertain as to the real reason or reasons why the US Air Force plane came to Sierra Leone yesterday. In the midst of the information tussle, the United States Embassy in Freetown released a statement thus: “We are aware of some misinformation about a US Air Force plane that was seen landing at Lungi Airport. A plane landed for routine refueling, and promptly left Sierra Leone. Rumors of the plane landing in Sierra Leone for any other purpose are false.”

Also, the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority SLAA made a press release titled ‘Landing Permit for Non-Schedule Flight (NS) about the flight: “A permit to operate non-schedule flight into Sierra Leone is hereby granted Pursuant to Part X of the Civil Aviation Act 2023 to: UNITED STATES EMBASSY (Technical stop fuel only) with effect from 23^rd June, 2024 to 25^th June, 2024. The operation shall be incompliance with all relevant Civil Aviation Regulation. Please inform the Civil Aviation for any changes made on the status of this permit. How can a giant plane like this land in Sierra Leone for refuelling for three days from June 23^rd to the 25^th?

Dated June 21, the SLAA press release was signed by Osman B Jalloh, the Director General. Moreover, the SLPP State House Director of Communications Micheal Berewa when contacted added his own views thus: “The military aircraft was spotted at the Lungi International Airport this morning touched down briefly for a technical stop.” The US Air Force aircraft that landed yesterday morning was the US Boeing B-52 Globemaster III, a military cargo plane with tremendous power and noise. How can a giant plane like this land in Sierra Leone for refuelling for three days from June 23^rd to the 25^th?

But putting two and two together and from a reliable source in the diplomatic circle, the landing of the American military plane is not unconnected with the ongoing Tripartite Committee investigations. With five days remaining for the Tripartite recommendations to be released, observers say it is no coincidence. Eyewitnesses say they saw some of US Marines together with their military equipment. It is not clear the exact number of the Marine soldiers who landed but what is succinct is that numbers large or small do not matter for the work of US Marines. How can a giant plane like this land in Sierra Leone for refuelling for three days from June 23^rd to the 25^th?

From experience, these highly trained and super-sophisticated soldiers can unsettle and destroy any battalion of soldiers by air, land and sea. The arrival yesterday is significant for the security of Sierra Leone considering the fragility and unstable situation in the country especially as the people await the outcome of the Tripartite recommendations expected this week. The refuelling story has been doubted by military experts who believe such an aircraft would not land in Sierra Leone for refuelling. Refuelling can even take place in the air. Why come to Sierra Leone of all countries? Has airdropping of Marines took place before it landed at Lungi Airport? How can a giant plane like this land in Sierra Leone for refuelling for three days from June 23^rd to the 25^th?