U.S. SENATOR ACCUSES SIERRA LEONE OF VIOLATING DEAL ON DEPORTED MIGRANTS

By Desmond Isaac Macauley

United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, has accused Sierra Leone of violating provisions of an agreement to host and resettle third country nationals deported from the United States.

Shaheen said there is now “credible evidence” that Sierra Leone is failing to comply with certain commitments under the agreement, despite receiving a $1.6 million grant to support the implementation of the programme.

The U.S. senator’s concerns have placed renewed attention on Sierra Leone’s obligations under the arrangement and how the funds provided by the United States are being utilized to implement the agreement.

Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador designate to Sierra Leone Daniel Travis said he was not fully up to speed on the extent to which the government and opposition have progressed with implementing the recommendations of the Agreement for National Unity.

He however, promised that advancing the agreement would be among his priorities once he arrives in Freetown, signalling a renewed U.S. diplomatic focus on Sierra Leone’s political and governance commitments.