As an ambassador at large, Sheikh Al-moustapha Kouyateh is a diplomat representing the government on various missions. In such a position, it is important that he continues to enjoy the trust and confidence of the president at whose will and pleasure he serves as Ambassador at Large. Such a diplomatic position requires that he tows the government lines at all times as long as he is occupying that position. Launching a criticism against another branch of the government he serves in was frowned upon by the lawmakers who were the subjects of his accusation for accepting bribery from foreign interests in regard to the passage of concession agreements. Could this be true or mere allegation? Whether this is true or false, it’s not the first time we have heard of such. There’s always rumors of corruption in government. No accusation is proven to be true until the case goes through the judicial process.

For this accusation, the ambassador was summoned by members of the House of Representatives. From the way it looked like, many thought he was going for confrontation with the lawmakers. Then he appeared with the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Hon. Samuel A. Stevquoah; the Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs for Legal Affairs and Administration; and the Legal Advisor to the President, Cllr. Bushuben Keita. Accompanied by these high levels of government officials, it is fair to say that he was advised to say what he said. The option was for him to say no and walk away or do what they told him to do in order to maintain his position as the Ambassador at Large. During the session with the lawmakers, Ambassador Kouyateh did express "regret" for his criticism or accusation. He apologized, to put simply. At the same time he assured the lawmakers that he would refrain from making any such statement in the future.

Reactions to the Ambassador's expression of regret and apology have been mixed with some accusing him of cowardice while others think he did the right thing in respect to the president who put his trust in him to serve in the capacity of an ambassador at large. In our African tradition, we are taught to listen to our elders. We may take certain positions but when our elders speak to us, we are obliged to listen. We are told that the ambassador met the president prior to his meeting with the lawmakers. So if the president talked to him to apologize to the lawmakers and he did so, there is no reason to criticize him for that. I am sure some would have expected the ambassador to come out swinging and going for the jugular with the lawmakers. What purpose would that have served? I believe that would have been the outcome some of his critics now would have wanted. He's a diplomat representing the nation through the current government, not an opposition politician to fight on behalf of the opposition block. If because of your opposition to the government you expected Ambassador Kouyateh to fight like a "hero" but he decided to yield to the demand of the power that be, relax. He is a diplomat and he is expected to represent and promote Liberia in term of investment opportunities, strengthening of good relations between Liberia and other countries, and in the process, promote the positive image of the country. Until he can resign to join the opposition to the government, respect his decision to apologize to the lawmakers. One cannot fight all the fight in this world. In some fight, it is better to walk away, as Bob Marley said, “he who fights and runs away, live to fight another day.