VP Jalloh Engages Over 250 Sierra Leoneans During Guinea Town Hall

Vice President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has met with more than 250 Sierra Leoneans living, working and conducting business in Guinea during a civic town hall held at the Sierra Leone Embassy in Conakry.

The engagement, moderated by Minister of Information and Civic Education Chernor Bah and hosted by Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Guinea, Foday Yumkella, focused on concerns affecting Sierra Leoneans in Guinea and followed bilateral discussions between the Sierra Leonean delegation and Guinea’s Government, led by Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah.

Vice President Jalloh said the visit provided an opportunity to strengthen relations between the two neighbouring countries and address issues including residence and work documentation, consular registration, cross-border trade, immigration, border cooperation and overseas employment.

He also expressed solidarity with Guinea following a recent landfill collapse that claimed lives, including Sierra Leonean nationals, offering condolences to affected families and appreciating the Guinean authorities for their response and support to affected Sierra Leoneans.

The two governments reaffirmed the principle of free movement between Sierra Leone and Guinea while agreeing to strengthen documentation and consular protection. They are also considering temporary measures to protect Sierra Leoneans travelling through Guinea for overseas employment from trafficking, smuggling, exploitation, unsafe recruitment practices and possible mass deportations.

The town hall included an interactive question-and-answer session, allowing community members to raise concerns and seek clarification from the Vice President, ministers and the Sierra Leonean Ambassador.

The Sierra Leone Union in Guinea presented Vice President Jalloh with an honorary membership card in recognition of his association with the community. He encouraged Sierra Leoneans in Guinea to remain peaceful, law-abiding and responsible members of their host communities.

The engagement concluded with more than 250 Sierra Leoneans joining the Vice President and government delegation in singing the national anthem. The delegation included Internal Affairs Minister Morie Lengor, Employment, Labour and Social Security Minister Umaru Napoleon Koroma, Chernor Bah, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Jeneba Bangura and Ambassador Foday Yumkella.