By By Elizabeth Ugbo
Sierra Leone on Wednesday received nine deported migrants from the United States at Freetown International Airport. The migrants arrived under a new agreement between Washington and Freetown. The deportees came from Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea, and Senegal. Sierra Leone’s Foreign Minister, Timothy Musa Kabba, confirmed the development while explaining the humanitarian arrangement between both countries.
Deportees Arrive Under Tight Security
Police officers, health workers, and government officials welcomed the deportees at the airport. Shortly after arrival, security officials escorted seven men and two women into a waiting minibus.
According to health ministry official Doris Bah, the deportees appeared traumatised after spending months in detention in the United States.
“Most of them want to return to their home countries,” Bah said.
She also revealed that authorities arrested some deportees at workplaces and recreational centres in the US.
The migrants will stay temporarily in a hotel. However, officials expect them to leave Sierra Leone within two weeks.
Sierra Leone Explains Deportation Agreement
Foreign Minister Kabba said Sierra Leone agreed to receive deportees only from member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
According to him, some migrants previously held Sierra Leonean residence permits. Therefore, the government approved temporary entry into the country.
Kabba explained that the deportees can remain in Sierra Leone for 90 days before returning to their countries of origin.
US Provides Financial Support
The United States government reportedly approved $1.5 million to support the programme. The funding will cover humanitarian and operational expenses linked to the deportation arrangement.
Meanwhile, a US State Department spokesperson defended the policy. The official described migrant removals as a “top priority” under President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
However, the spokesperson did not explain why Sierra Leone was selected for the arrangement.
African Countries Increasingly Receive US Deportees
Sierra Leone joins several African nations already accepting deported migrants from the United States. These countries include Cameroon, Ghana, Rwanda, South Sudan, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In some cases, African countries have also received migrants from outside Africa, including Latin America.
Human Rights Groups Criticise Deportation Deals
Human Rights Watch criticised the agreements between the US and African countries. The organisation described the arrangements as “opaque deals” that may violate international human rights laws.
The rights group urged African governments to reject such deportation agreements.
