By John Kelly Marah
Hundreds of Sierra Leoneans have been deported from Guinea, with reports indicating that more than 500 individuals were abandoned at the Pamalap border crossing. The deportees claim they were forcefully taken from their homes, stripped of their belongings, and exposed to tear gas during the operation.
The streets of Conakry witnessed a sweeping crackdown this week, as Guinean authorities rounded up over 1,000 Sierra Leoneans living in makeshift camps along beaches and in urban slums. Accused of loitering, prostitution, theft, and other alleged crimes, many were forcibly loaded onto trucks and transported to the border.
The sudden operation has left the migrant community shaken. Many deportees recounted traumatic experiences of losing money, personal belongings, and their sense of dignity. Some alleged they were physically assaulted by security personnel during the arrests.
One deportee described the ordeal:
“We were treated like animals. I lost everything—my clothes, my savings, even my phone. They accused us of crimes, but many of us were just trying to survive.”
According to the Sierra Leone Police, many of the deportees were apprehended in Dubreka on allegations of loitering without lawful authority and failure to produce valid identification. Guinean authorities also accused the group of engaging in anti-social activities, including prostitution and drug peddling.
The deportation has sparked concern in Sierra Leone, where families say their relatives had been living and working in Guinea for years before being abruptly expelled.
A senior police official in Freetown confirmed that the deportees were handed over to Sierra Leonean authorities at the Gbalamuya border crossing in Kambia District. The returnees are currently undergoing profiling to verify their identities and assess any possible legal or security concerns.
While Guinean authorities maintain that the deportees were involved in criminal activities, human rights advocates argue that the crackdown unfairly targets vulnerable migrants trying to earn a living.
“This is a sensitive issue that touches on the dignity and rights of our citizens,” the official said. “We are engaging with our Guinean counterparts to ensure such actions are conducted in line with international protocols.”
The incident has also reignited concerns about the challenges faced by Sierra Leonean migrants in Guinea. Many cross the border for economic opportunities such as petty trading, farming, and casual labour, relying on long-standing cultural and economic ties between border communities. However, the absence of proper documentation often leaves them exposed to arrest and deportation.
Despite the gravity of the situation, authorities from both countries have yet to issue detailed official statements addressing the reported use of tear gas or the full scale of the deportations.
Meanwhile, residents in affected areas described chaotic scenes, with traders, commuters, and families caught in the upheaval. Some reportedly fled to avoid exposure to the tear gas.
The Government of Sierra Leone is yet to release an official public response to the mass deportation.
