The Sierra Leonean government has announced the safe return of nine deportees to their respective West African countries, following their temporary care in Freetown under a deportation agreement with the United States.
The nine nationals of ECOWAS member states arrived in Sierra Leone on 20 May under the terms of the U.S.-Sierra Leone Third Country National Agreement, which allows for individuals removed from the United States to be temporarily received by Sierra Leone before onward transfer.
In a statement on Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said all nine had voluntarily returned to their countries of origin after completing administrative, consular, and travel arrangements.
During their stay, the deportees received accommodation, meals, clothing, health screening, and psychosocial support coordinated by the ministry, diplomatic missions, and local partner Kenvah Solutions.
The government did not disclose the specific ECOWAS countries involved or the reasons for the original deportations from the US.
Officials described the process as a demonstration of Sierra Leone’s commitment to regional cooperation and orderly migration management under its bilateral arrangement with Washington.
