By Tim Jones and Mohamed Conteh
Sierra Leone has confirmed it will receive deported West African nationals from the United States under a migration arrangement described as a “Third Country National Agreement,” the government said.
Foreign Minister Timothy Musa Kabba said the country had agreed to temporarily accept migrants who are not Sierra Leonean citizens but are being deported from the United States.
According to Reuters, the first group of around 25 deportees from countries including Senegal, Ghana, Guinea and Nigeria is expected to arrive on May 20. The report added that the broader framework could allow for up to 300 deportees annually under the arrangement.
Officials said the agreement is part of broader migration cooperation between Sierra Leone and the United States, though the government has not released the full text of the deal.
Key operational details, including the duration of stay, legal status of deportees, and repatriation arrangements to their home countries, have also not been publicly disclosed.
The development is likely to spark debate over Sierra Leone’s role in regional migration management, particularly as West African countries continue to grapple with irregular migration and deportation policies involving Europe and the United States.
Government officials have not indicated what support systems will be put in place for the deportees upon arrival, or how coordination with their countries of origin will be handled.
The agreement marks a significant step in U.S.–West Africa migration cooperation, with Sierra Leone now positioned as a transit point for deported migrants within the region.
