Department of State – FOIA F-2025-30612 – Bureau of African Affairs Records Request (Sept–Dec 2025)

F-2025-30612
Appeal Pending
⚡ EXPEDITED

Summary

On September 29, 2025, Covenant for Forgotten Warriors submitted FOIA request F-2025-30612 to the U.S. Department of State seeking records held by the Bureau of African Affairs and the Office of West African Affairs referencing Sgt Kelvin Blas from March 1, 2020 to present.

The request sought communications between AF/W and U.S. Embassy Lomé, internal briefing materials, decision memoranda, and records concerning welfare, case handling, and repatriation coordination.

On November 17, 2025, the Department placed the request in the “complex” processing track, denied expedited processing, and denied a fee waiver.

On December 8, 2025, the Department issued a “no records” determination and closed this request along with eight other FOIA requests on the same day.

Procedural History & Updates

  • September 29, 2025 – FOIA request F-2025-30612 submitted to the U.S. Department of State.
  • November 17, 2025 – Acknowledgment letter issued. The request was placed in the complex processing track. Expedited processing and fee waiver were denied.
  • December 8, 2025 – The Department issued a closure letter for F-2025-30612. This closure occurred the same day as eight other related FOIA requests.
  • December 8, 2025 – Appealed the closure of this FOIA
  • December 12, 2025 – Received an acknowledgement and tracking number A-2026-00054

Request Details

Agency Department of State
State Federal
Filed By Covenant for Forgotten Warriors (CFW)
Date Filed September 29, 2025
Statutory Deadline October 20, 2025

Document Types

FOIA Request

Investigation Campaigns

Kelvin Blas

Legal & Procedural Issues

Administrative Appeal Eligible Expedited Processing Denied Fee Waiver Dispute No Records Response

Case Records

Original FOIA Request – Bureau of African Affairs (Sept 29, 2025)
Released: September 29, 2025
Full FOIA submission seeking records from the Bureau of African Affairs and Office of West African Affairs referencing Sgt Kelvin Blas from March 1, 2020 to present, including communications, briefing materials, and repatriation-related records.
Download PDF (113 KB)
Acknowledgment Letter – Expedited & Fee Waiver Denied (Nov 17, 2025)
Released: November 17, 2025
Department of State acknowledgment placing the request in the complex processing track and denying both expedited processing and fee waiver status under 22 CFR Part 171.
Download PDF (245 KB)
Closure Letter – No Records Found (Dec 8, 2025)
Released: December 8, 2025
Department of State determination stating that no responsive records were located and closing this request along with eight additional FOIA requests in a consolidated action.
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