In brief
In a significant development, Sierra Leone has accepted its first group of nine migrants deported from the United States, continuing the trend of third country deportations amidst strict US immigration enforcement. The arrivals have sparked concern over human rights implications and the nature of the agreements under which these deportations occur.
Sierra Leone has become the latest African country to receive migrants deported from the United States amid Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration. A plane carrying nine West African migrants landed at Sierra Leone's international airport, just outside the capital, Freetown, on Wednesday morning. Last week, Foreign Minister Timothy Musa Kabba stated that the country had agreed to accept up to 300 people a year expelled by the United States, with the stipulation that deportees must originate from Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) member countries.The US has already sent deportees to several other African countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, and South Sudan. Under the Trump administration, similar deportations have predominantly focused on migrants from countries further afield, such as Colombia and Mexico. On Wednesday, the BBC witnessed the arrival of nine deportees, comprising seven men and two women. Several appeared distressed, with one reportedly resisting departure from the plane before being forcibly removed.Five deportees were identified as coming from Ghana, while the others hailed from Guinea, Nigeria, and Senegal. Although Ecowas agreements permit citizens of member states to reside in others for up to 90 days, the private company housing these migrants indicated they would only be permitted to stay for two weeks before being sent back to their home countries. Critics argue that third-country deportations violate international human rights standards, putting vulnerable migrants at risk. Last September, Human Rights Watch called on African nations to reject these deals, which they argue exploit human suffering for political purposes. Likewise, Ghana has declared its stance on accepting only deportees from Ecowas nations, supporting the trend seen in Sierra Leone.
