US Deports First Group of West Africans to Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone Receives Migrants from US Under Trump Immigration Crackdown

A plane carrying nine migrants from West African countries has arrived at Freetown’s airport, marking Sierra Leone’s latest participation in the US-led deportation program. The migrants, who were detained in the US for months, have been described as “traumatised” due to their experience.

According to officials, the group includes five individuals from Ghana, two from Guinea, one from Senegal, and one from Nigeria. They will be housed in a hotel and are expected to return to their home countries within two weeks.

Foreign Minister Timothy Musa Kabba confirmed that Sierra Leone has agreed to receive migrants for approximately 90 days before their onward journey. The US government has provided a $1.5m grant to support the costs associated with this agreement.

This is not the first time Sierra Leone has participated in such an arrangement, as it has struck similar deals with at least eight other African nations. Other countries that have entered into these agreements include the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, South Sudan, Rwanda, Uganda, Eswatini, Ghana, and Cameroon.

Human Rights Watch had previously expressed concerns about the “opaque deals” being made between the US and African nations, stating that they violate international human rights law.

Source: Al Jazeera