Sierra Leone has received nine West African migrants deported from the United States under a new arrangement with the administration of Donald Trump aimed at accelerating migrant removals.
The group, which arrived in Freetown on Wednesday, included seven men and two women from Ghana, Senegal, Guinea, and Nigeria.
According to Sierra Leone’s Foreign Minister, Timothy Kabba, the country agreed to accept up to 300 deportees annually, with arrivals capped at 25 per month.
The deportees are being temporarily housed near the airport by Kenvah Solutions, a private contractor tasked with accommodating them for up to two weeks, though longer stays may be allowed in exceptional cases.
Reports indicate that many of those deported intend to return to their home countries.
The arrangement mirrors similar agreements involving other African nations, including Ghana and Equatorial Guinea, as Washington expands third-country deportation partnerships.
However, details regarding any compensation or support Sierra Leone may receive in exchange for accepting the deportees remain unclear.
