Diaspora

Freetown — More than 2,300 Sierra Leoneans have passed through Guinea’s airport in search of jobs abroad, Labour Minister Umaru Napoleon Koroma has disclosed, raising fresh concerns about the risks of unregulated overseas recruitment. Speaking at the Ministry of Information and Civic Education’s press conference, Minister Koroma used the figure to highlight the growing scale [...]

The Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Umaru Napoleon Koroma, has warned Sierra Leoneans seeking employment opportunities overseas to avoid dealing with unlicensed recruitment agencies, following growing concerns over illegal recruitment and exploitation. Speaking at the Ministry of Information and Civic Education’s press conference in Freetown, Minister Koroma disclosed that more than 2,300 Sierra [...] The post Labour Minister Napoleon Koroma Warns Sierra Leoneans Over Illegal Overseas Recruitment appeared first on Sierraloaded.

“When desperation creates the migrant, weak institutions create the opportunity, and traffickers create the route, closing the border alone will never solve the problem.” Sierra Leone’s temporary suspension of overseas recruitment activities connected to the Guinea route should not be treated merely as an administrative restriction on travel. Nor should it degenerate into a diplomatic [...] The post Beyond the Guinea Route: Freetown and Conakry Must Confront the Human Trade Across Our Borders appeared first on Sierraloaded.

The United States Embassy in Sierra Leone has highlighted the impact of its investment in the country’s health sector through the U.S.-funded Global Health Supply Chain Program–Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM). According to the Embassy, the programme has, since 2018, supported the delivery of millions of essential health supplies to Sierra Leone, strengthening the country’s [...] The post US Reveals Impact of Over $22 Million Health Supply Programme in Sierra Leone appeared first on Sierraloaded.

Vice-President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh says both countries have agreed on fresh follow-up mechanisms tackling migration, border security and trade concerns. Guinea's Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah hosted these talks. The two governments will establish technical structures implementing the Tripartite Border Security Communiqué signed 26 March 2026. Dr Juldeh Jalloh disclosed this while updating the Sierra Leonean community at the embassy in Conakry. He said the mechanisms would provide a...

Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has engaged more than 250 Sierra Leoneans living in Guinea on migration, consular protection, employment, trade and cross-border cooperation during a civic town hall held on September 9, 2026, at the Sierra Leone Embassy in Conakry. The engagement, moderated by Minister of Information and Civic Education Chernor Bah and [...] The post VP Juldeh Jalloh Engages Sierra Leoneans in Guinea to Address Migration Concerns appeared first on Sierraloaded.

The Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security has suspended all overseas recruitment activities linked to the Guinea route with immediate effect, following allegations that the route is being used to facilitate the travel of Sierra Leoneans for overseas employment. In a public notice issued from its New England Ville headquarters on Friday, the Ministry [...] The post Labour Ministry Suspends Overseas Recruitment for Sierra Leoneans Through Guinea Route appeared first on Sierraloaded.

Vice-President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh says both countries have agreed on fresh follow-up mechanisms tackling migration, border security and trade concerns. Guinea's Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah hosted these talks. The two governments will establish technical structures implementing the Tripartite Border Security Communiqué signed 26 March 2026. Dr Juldeh Jalloh disclosed this while updating the Sierra Leonean community at the embassy in Conakry. He said the mechanisms would provide a...

The Chinese Embassy Counsellor Wang Peng paid a courtesy call on Deputy Mining Minister Foday Mousa Fofana. Their meeting covered mining cooperation, knowledge transfer and investment opportunities. The talks took place on 9 September, with both sides stressing responsible and sustainable mining, local content, skills development and greater economic benefits from Sierra Leone's mineral resources. Mr Fofana welcomed the visit and reaffirmed his ministry's commitment to deepening ties with the...

Freetown, 11 September 2026 – The Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security has temporarily suspended all overseas recruitment activities linked to the Guinea route with immediate effect. In a public notice issued today from its New England Ville headquarters, the Ministry said the suspension follows allegations that some private employment agencies and unknown individuals [...]

The Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security has announced the temporary suspension of all overseas recruitment activities connected to the Guinea route, following allegations that some private employment agencies and individuals have been using the route to facilitate the travel of Sierra Leoneans for foreign jobs.

Sierra Leone and Guinea have agreed to create follow-up and technical mechanisms to address migration and integration challenges, strengthen border security cooperation, and deepen trade and economic ties between the two neighbouring countries. Vice President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh announced the agreement in Conakry while briefing Sierra Leoneans at the country’s Embassy. The discussions followed [...]

The Sierra Leone Immigration Department (SLID) and the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen inter-agency cooperation on border governance, national security and coordinated security operations. The agreement was signed in Freetown on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, establishing a formal framework for the two institutions to enhance intelligence sharing, [...] The post Immigration Department, Police Sign Landmark Agreement to Strengthen Border Security appeared first on Sierraloaded.

, September 10, 2026 Alhaji Dr. Kandeh K. Yumkella, Special Envoy for the West Africa Integration and Investment Summit, WAIIS 2026, has held a courtesy and working meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, H.E. Mr. Zhao Yong, as preparations intensify for the regional investment summit. The meeting, held at the Embassy of [...] The post Dr. Yumkella advances WAIIS 2026 engagement with China first appeared on AYV Media Empire Sierra Leone, London, Ghana and Africa News Channel. The post Dr. Yumkella advances WAIIS 2026 engagement with China appeared first on AYV Media Empire Sier...

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Sierra Leone has held discussions with Mr. Feng Kai, Lead for Public Health and Foreign Aid Cooperation at the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone, to strengthen collaboration in maternal, newborn and reproductive health services. The meeting focused on advancing cooperation under UNFPA’s 8th Country Programme for Sierra Leone, covering [...] The post UNFPA, Chinese Embassy Discuss Strengthening Maternal And Cervical Cancer Care In Sierra Leone appeared first on Sierraloaded.

The Sierra Leone Embassy in Moscow, Russia, has announced that scholarship students will begin receiving their 2025/2026 academic-year stipends on September 11. In a notice dated September 8, 2026, the Embassy of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the Russian Federation said the funds had been credited to the mission’s account. The Embassy said disbursement [...] The post Government Confirms Stipend Disbursement for Sierra Leonean Students in Russia appeared first on Sierraloaded.

Vice-President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh says both countries have agreed on fresh follow-up mechanisms tackling migration, border security and trade concerns. Guinea's Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah hosted these talks. The two governments will establish technical structures implementing the Tripartite Border Security Communiqué signed 26 March 2026. Dr Juldeh Jalloh disclosed this while updating the Sierra Leonean community at the embassy in Conakry. He said the mechanisms would provide a...

The Chinese Embassy Counsellor Wang Peng paid a courtesy call on Deputy Mining Minister Foday Mousa Fofana. Their meeting covered mining cooperation, knowledge transfer and investment opportunities. The talks took place on 9 September, with both sides stressing responsible and sustainable mining, local content, skills development and greater economic benefits from Sierra Leone's mineral resources. Mr Fofana welcomed the visit and reaffirmed his ministry's commitment to deepening ties with the...

The Embassy of Sierra Leone in the Russian Federation has confirmed that stipends for the 2025/2026 academic year have been credited to its account and will begin disbursement to scholarship students on Friday, September 11, 2026, between 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Honourable Mohamed Rahman Swaray, has visited the country’s Embassy in Monrovia, where he assessed the operations of the Mission and discussed measures to further strengthen Sierra Leone-Liberia relations. Minister Swaray was received by Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Liberia, His Excellency Eddie S. Massally, alongside diplomatic, administrative [...] The post Foreign Affairs Minister Swaray Assesses Sierra Leone Embassy Operations in Liberia appeared first on Sierraloaded.

By Hawanatu Umu Sineoritta Adams A newspaper article that sparked a diplomatic disagreement in 2017 has, years later, become the beginning of a remarkable journey of friendship, scholarship and deeper understanding between Sierra Leone and China. Speaking at the Chinese Embassy Media Open Day in Freetown, journalist and academic Marius Musa Kargbo reflected on his [...] The post From ‘Chinese Cosmetic Road’ to China’s Classroom: Marius Kargbo Recounts Journey from Questioning to Understanding first appeared on AYV Media Empire Sierra Leone, London, Ghana and Africa News Channel. The post Fr...

The people of Jendema, travellers, cross-border traders and other stakeholders at the Sierra Leone–Liberia border have praised the leadership of Ibrahim Kofi Conteh, Senior Immigration Officer and Head of Station of the Sierra Leone Immigration Department at the Mano River Bridge, Jendema, for what they describe as significant improvements in immigration services since his posting [...] The post Jendema Border Community Applauds Transformation of Immigration Services appeared first on Sierraloaded.

DUBLIN, Ireland The Embassy of The Republic of Sierra leone in Ireland has welcomed eight out of nine Sierra Leonean professionals selected for the 2026/2027 Ireland-Fellows Programme, marking the arrival of a new cohort of scholars who are set to undertake fully funded master’s degrees at Irish universities. The scholars arrived at Dublin Airport on [...] The post Embassy of the Republic of Sierra leone in Dublin Ireland Welcomes Ireland-Fellows Scholars in Dublin. first appeared on AYV Media Empire Sierra Leone, London, Ghana and Africa News Channel. The post Embassy of the Republic of Si...

The U.S. Embassy in Freetown has announced that the Peace Corps is accepting applications from American citizens interested in serving as volunteers in Health and Education programmes across Sierra Leone. In an announcement issued on Saturday, September 5, 2026, the Embassy said the recruitment is open to Americans living in Sierra Leone who are interested [...] The post U.S. Embassy-Freetown Opens Peace Corps Applications for Americans to Serve in Sierra Leone appeared first on Sierraloaded.

By Marius Musa Kargbo China-Sierra Leone bilateral trade is on course to reach a new record high this year, with trade between the two countries already recording strong growth in the first half of 2026. The Chinese Ambassador made the disclosure during the Chinese Embassy’s Media Open Day in Freetown, where he highlighted growing economic, [...] The post China-Sierra Leone Trade Set for New Record as China-Sierra Leone Relations Mark 55 Years first appeared on AYV Media Empire Sierra Leone, London, Ghana and Africa News Channel. The post China-Sierra Leone Trade Set for New Record as China...

Sierra Leone’s Immigration Department is moving to digitize passport services and extend access abroad under a 14-month reform plan presented to the government. The strategy, submitted to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Morie Lengor Esq., sets out measures to modernize service delivery, strengthen accountability and improve institutional performance, officials said. Chief Immigration Officer Dr Moses [...] The post Sierra Leone to Digitize Passport Services and Expand Access Abroad appeared first on Sierraloaded.

SLPP Member of Parliament for Pujehun District and former Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis, has reportedly called for an investigation into an alleged visa fraud involving his name and a person he says he has never employed. Tunis told the Global Times that the United States Embassy in Freetown informed him [...] The post SLPP MP Sidie Tunis Linked to Alleged U.S. Visa Fraud, Demands Investigation appeared first on Sierraloaded.

Freetown – Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis, the SLPP Member of Parliament for Pujehun District (Constituency 101) and former Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, has called for a full investigation into an alleged visa fraud involving the unauthorised use of his name. The development follows notification from the US Embassy in Freetown that Hon. Tunis is [...]

The Sierra Leone Immigration Department has presented its 2026–2027 Work Plan to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Morie Lengor Esq., as part of efforts to strengthen accountability, improve service delivery and enhance institutional performance. The plan, presented at the Department’s headquarters on 14 Gloucester Street in Freetown, outlines four key deliverables to be implemented [...] The post Immigration Department Presents 2026–2027 Work Plan to Internal Affairs Minister first appeared on The Calabash Newspaper.

Nine Sierra Leoneans now appear on the “US Worst of the Worst” list, compared to 26 in June 2026. The database, maintained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), publicly identifies non-citizens with serious criminal records who are subject to removal proceedings. The website, accessible at wow.dhs.gov, was launched in December 2025 as part of intensified [...] The post 9 Sierra Leoneans Featured on US ‘Worst of the Worst’ List appeared first on Sierraloaded.

Nine Sierra Leonean nationals remain listed on the updated US “Worst of the Worst” criminal aliens database, as the Department of Homeland Security expands its public record of individuals facing immigration enforcement. The latest update to the database maintained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) brings the total number of West African nationals featured [...]

Sierra Leoneans are among citizens of 22 African countries who could benefit from the United Kingdom’s Ancestry Visa, a Commonwealth-based immigration route that allows eligible applicants to live and work in the UK for up to five years, with a pathway to permanent settlement. Under the scheme, eligible applicants must be Commonwealth citizens aged 17 [...] The post Sierra Leoneans with British Roots Get New Opportunity to Live and Work in UK appeared first on Sierraloaded.

Sierra Leoneans with eligible United Kingdom ancestry are among citizens of 22 African countries who can apply for the UK’s Ancestry Visa – a five-year immigration route that allows qualifying Commonwealth citizens to live and work in the UK, with a pathway to permanent settlement.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has confirmed the deaths of 17 Sierra Leonean nationals following the devastating Dar-es-Salam landfill landslide in Gbessia, Conakry, Guinea. The confirmation followed a joint identification exercise conducted by Guinean authorities and officials of the Sierra Leone Embassy at designated hospital mortuaries in Conakry. According to the Ministry, ...

Shri Gurudwara Sahib SL Ltd., Lumley Freetown, in collaboration with the Indian Diaspora, hosted the 5th annual Baba Guru Nanak Scholarship 2026, an initiative aimed at supporting needy and meritorious Sierra Leonean children with educational assistance. The event was hosted on Friday 28th August 2026 at Sierra Palms in Aberdeen, Freetown. The scholarship programme, [...] The post Baba Guru Nanak Scholarship 2026 Marks 5th Edition, Awards Full Scholarships to 350 Pupils first appeared on The Calabash Newspaper.

A devastating landfill landslide in Conakry has left 17 Sierra Leoneans dead and dozens more displaced, deepening the anguish of families awaiting news about relatives caught in the disaster. Yet amid the grief, a measure of relief has emerged: Sierra Leone’s Embassy in Guinea has confirmed that 54 Sierra Leonean nationals survived the catastrophe. [...] The post Conakry Landfill Landslide: 17 Sierra Leoneans Confirmed Dead, 54 Survivors Identified first appeared on The Calabash Newspaper.

Sierra Leone has confirmed that 17 of its nationals, 14 men and three women, are among those killed in the deadly landfill landslide at Dar-es-Salam in Conakry, Guinea. The victims were identified through a joint exercise involving Guinean authorities and officials from the Sierra Leonean Embassy in Conakry, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs [...] The post 17 Sierra Leoneans confirmed dead in Conakry landfill landslide first appeared on AYV Media Empire Sierra Leone, London, Ghana and Africa News Channel. The post 17 Sierra Leoneans confirmed dead in Conakry landfill landslide ap...

Seventeen Sierra Leonean nationals have been confirmed dead after a devastating landfill landslide struck the Dar-es-Salaam dumpsite in Gbessia, Conakry, Guinea. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation announced the update on Friday, 28 August 2026, following a joint identification exercise by Guinean authorities and Sierra Leone Embassy officials at mortuaries in the Guinean [...]

The Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone has supported the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) with specialised training for four of its staff in China, aimed at strengthening professional capacity in immigration and border management. The training, organised under a China-aid programme and hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China (MOFCOM), [...] The post Chinese Embassy Strengthens Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Human Resource Capacity Through Immigration and Border Management Training appeared first on Sierraloaded.

The Embassy of the Republic of Sierra Leone in Liberia has hosted Commissioner Joseph Maada Lahai of the National Youth Commission (NAYCOM) during his official engagements in Monrovia. Commissioner Lahai was welcomed by Deputy Ambassador H.E. Lusine Kallon, the Defence Attaché and other senior officials at the Embassy. The engagement focused on strengthening cooperation between [...] The post Sierra Leone Embassy Hosts NAYCOM Boss in Liberia for Youth Development Talks appeared first on Sierraloaded.

The Government of Sierra Leone has assured citizens that they are not prohibited from travelling to or passing through neighbouring Guinea, provided they possess valid travel documents and meet the country’s immigration and security requirements. The clarification was contained in a public notice issued by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education on Thursday, [...] The post Government Clarifies Travel Rules for Sierra Leoneans Transiting Through Guinea first appeared on The Calabash Newspaper.

By Sallieu S. Kanu Freetown, August 22, 2026: The United States Ambassador‐Designate to Sierra Leone, Daniel Travis, has pledged to work closely with the Government of Sierra Leone to ensure [...]

China-Sierra Leone trade reached $2.3 billion in 2025, nearly 30% higher than the previous year, as both countries mark 55 years of diplomatic relations. Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone Zhao Yong disclosed the figures Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, during a media open day at the Chinese Embassy on Spur Road in Freetown. Zhao said Sierra [...] The post Ambassador Zhao Yong Reveals $2.3 Billion China-Sierra Leone Trade in 2025 appeared first on Sierraloaded.

Ambassador Zhao Yong welcomed print and electronic media practitioners to the Chinese Embassy Open Day at Spur Loop, Wilberforce, Freetown. Sierra Leone Association of Journalists President joined other attendees at last week’s diplomatic engagement. Zhao recalled five decades of strategic cooperation across multiple development sectors between the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Sierra Leone. The ambassador encouraged the press to document successful joint projects,...

A United States federal court has struck down a Trump administration policy suspending immigrant visa processing for applicants from Sierra Leone and 74 other countries, in a ruling that could reopen immigration pathways for thousands of affected individuals. The decision was delivered on Friday by U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas in Manhattan, who declared the [...] The post U.S. Court Lifts Trump Visa Restrictions on Sierra Leone appeared first on Sierraloaded.

Reflection by Rev. Fr. Peter Konteh The concerns raised by U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen about third-country deportation agreements compel us to reflect upon a painful paradox of history. Sierra Leone—and particularly Freetown—has long been associated with the resettlement of formerly enslaved and displaced Africans: * In 1787, several hundred formerly enslaved and poor Black people [...]

Sierra Leone's immigration has become a ridicule as the department is invariably run by a foreigner allegedly linked to Dutch drug baron Jos Leijdekker, Hamas and Hezbollah.

Sierra Leone has advanced plans to improve coordination in its fight against female genital mutilation (FGM) as government and partners move to establish a national steering body to guide the response. The Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, alongside UNFPA Sierra Leone, the Embassy of Iceland in Freetown and other partners, convened stakeholders in the [...] The post Sierra Leone Strengthens FGM Fight with New National Steering Committee appeared first on Sierraloaded.

Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, His Excellency Zhao Yong, has highlighted the growing economic and diplomatic ties between China and Sierra Leone, citing increased bilateral trade, expanding exports and strengthened people-to-people relations between the two countries. Ambassador Zhao made the statement on Thursday, 20 August 2026, during the Chinese Embassy Open Day held at [...] The post At Chinese Embassy Open Day, Ambassador Zhao Yong Highlights US$2.3bn China-Sierra Leone Trade first appeared on The Calabash Newspaper.

The Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, has clarified social media reports claiming that Sierra Leoneans are being banned from travelling overseas through Guinea’s airport. According to a public notice issued by the Ministry on Thursday, August 20, 2026, Sierra Leoneans are not banned from travelling to or transiting [...] The post Government Clarifies Reports of Sierra Leoneans Being Banned From Travelling Through Guinea appeared first on Sierraloaded.