By Mohamed Kamara
Freetown — The National Coordinator of the Network of Ex-Asylum Seekers (NEAS-SL), a self-organizing initiative for deportees, Mr. Abdulai Daramy, has expressed concerns about the challenges the organization faces in achieving its advocacy goals for the enactment of deportation laws in Sierra Leone. Speaking at a recent Network management meeting, Daramy pointed to the re-election of the Republican Party in the United States and its impact on the deportation issue.
He cited statements made by former President Donald Trump during his pre-election campaign, in which he called for the urgent removal of undocumented migrants from the U.S. “Sierra Leone and Sierra Leoneans will not be exempted from this wave of deportation,” Daramy warned, noting that Trump’s remarks, made before, during, and after the U.S. election, might influence U.S. immigration policy.
In addition to the U.S., Daramy highlighted Germany as another country where Sierra Leoneans are facing increased deportation. He noted that Germany had already deported several Sierra Leoneans during the recent festive season, and this trend is expected to continue into 2025. Countries such as Turkey, Greece, and several Middle Eastern nations, including Kuwait and Dubai, have also deported Sierra Leoneans. Daramy further predicted that Northern African countries will follow suit, contributing to the ongoing exodus of Sierra Leonean citizens.
Looking ahead, Daramy outlined NEAS-SL’s advocacy priorities for 2025, focusing on strengthening professional engagements with local and national authorities. He urged these authorities to pay greater attention to the plight of deportees living in Sierra Leone, many of whom have faced 15 years of neglect, poverty, and marginalization. “Despite the wealth some may have gained, we remain humble, and we must remember that we are all equal in the eyes of death,” Daramy said.
Mr. Usif S. Mansaray, the Program Manager for NEAS-SL, emphasized the importance of enacting a comprehensive deportation law in Sierra Leone. He stated that the draft deportation law, which has been prepared, includes a national and inclusive perspective, addressing a wide range of issues related to deportees. Mansaray highlighted the need for continued public awareness campaigns through various means, such as distributing NEAS-SL brochures and the draft deportation law to ministries, departments, agencies, civil society groups, media houses, and humanitarian organizations.
He also called on religious organizations to lend their support to deportees, stating that “saving lives has no distinction of title.” According to Mansaray, deportees face multiple challenges, including the need for temporary accommodation, social integration, and support for education and business development. These needs, he said, must be addressed for successful reintegration into Sierra Leonean society.
In closing, Mansaray expressed optimism about the coming year, stating, “2025 will be a colorful year for NEAS-SL, and we are ready to knock, push, and open doors to ensure the swift enactment of a deportation law in Sierra Leone.”
