Lowest-Lows…
MASS DEPORTATION OF SIERRA LEONEANS IN GUINEA
By Ibrahim Alusine Kamara (Kamalo)
The bilateral relation between Sierra Leone and Guinea, two sister countries in the Mano River Basin, will soon lose its spark and become stale – lacking in excitement, passion, or novelty – if the mass deportation of Sierra Leonean citizens from that country is not halted forthwith, observers have predicted.
The situation was pathetic few days ago as a part of Guinea capital, Conakry, where Sierra Leoneans densely inhabited in makeshifts of slums community and near beaches, was suddenly demolished, leaving thousands homeless.
A day or two later, a wind of compulsory deportation swept across Conakry, targeting Sierra Leonean citizens, who were bundled up in military trucks and recklessly abandoned by Guinean security forces at the Gbalamuya Checkpoint, the border between the two countries.
The Guinean authorities’ action propelled devastating consequences on affected citizens of the sisterly nation, and the entire situation leaves in shock not just the victims but the Sierra Leonean community in Guinea and their counterparts back home and in the diaspora, as well as many Guineans.
The circumstances surrounding the forced, mass deportation remain unclear as the authorities of both countries are yet to officially come to the open to inform the world. However, monitored reports from Conakry accuse Sierra Leoneans of loitering, prostitution, thievery, drugs trafficking, and other crimes, thus igniting the ugly action though lacking the accepted diplomatic process, procedures and ethics.
In the process of demolishing homes of the victims, eyewitnesses account that the security forces massively destroyed almost all property belonging to them, beating mercilessly any victim they came across in undignified manner amid the loss of raw cash running to billions.
The victims say many of them had lived in Conakry for decades and they had never for once been implicated in any criminal activity, nor prostitution, but noted how they have now been treated inhumanly like common criminals to the point of losing everything they had earned over the years.
Military authorities in Guinea, however, alleged that the presence of Sierra Leoneans had posed a societal anxiety, and that, the deportation action came in agreement with the Sierra Leone Embassy in Conakry, a claim the Deputy Ambassador to Guinea, Madam Sawanneh, has debunked, meeting with the Guinean security forces at the border.
Madam Sawanneh emphatically said that the Sierra Leone Embassy in Guinea was not informed, nor the authorities back home, regarding the destruction of Sierra Leonean homes in Conakry, let alone their forceful deportation.
Meanwhile, reactions from Sierra Leoneans around the world show disgust and disgruntlement at what they refer to as ‘malicious’ action meted against their brothers and sisters.
“What? Guineans deporting our Sierra Leonean people! Where is our national dignity? This is deeply heart-piercing to say the least!” a Sierra Leonean moaned adding: “Guineans are everywhere in Sierra Leone in their tens or hundreds of thousands, and we accord them the best of respect and human dignity, but what if we reciprocate?”
Other Sierra Leoneans lambasted the Guinean authorities’ action as a blatant misbehavior against Sierra Leonean nationals, calling it also a shame to all Sierra Leoneans around the globe.
“Why is Guinea of all extending crude hands to our brothers and sisters in their country like that? What a wicked act!” another Sierra Leonean groaned, lamenting that if no serious action is taken, no one will blame Sierra Leoneans if they start chasing out Guineans from Sierra Leone.
“We may seek revenge if anything positive is done because we have Guineans in Sierra Leone far more than they have us in Guinea, and in fact, all the activities they are banking on to justify their high-handedness against our brothers and sisters are carried out by their nationals more than triple with impunity in Sierra Leone,” the disgruntled Sierra Leonean citizen claimed.
The Guinean authorities seem to have developed the notoriety for insulting the integrity of Sierra Leoneans – diplomatic and territorial – without anything coming out of it.
It can be noted that the Guinean security forces have invaded and forcefully occupied Yenga, a community with a considerable stretch of land owned by Sierra Leoneans in the east of the country. This is not just foreign aggression in itself, but an insult to Sierra Leoneans’ territorial integrity.
A case of Guineans’ notoriety for insulting Sierra Leone’s diplomatic integrity is not only the ongoing mass deportation but when they used to just wake up from bed and announce a shutdown of their board with Sierra Leone.
For pundits, it is a shame on Sierra Leonean politicians to witness all of these dishonourable acts happening against their citizens by a country like Guinea that was nothing to Sierra Leone in terms of all aspects of development and human growth.
The pundits say had Sierra Leonean politicians sober-minded to work towards nation-building and human development, citizens of a great nation like Sierra Leone – once the Anthems of Africa, nay the bastion of development in the black continent and beyond – would not be facing an ineffable ordeal anywhere in the globe.
The pundits say if the current situation faced by Sierra Leoneans in Guinea is not a loud call for their political leaders to imbibe a spirit of patriotism and stop being reckless in handling the affairs of the country, it should be a warning to the electorate against touting and dying for good-for-nothing people in the realm of politics.
Reacting to the Guinean authorities’ action, Dr. Samura Mathew Wilson Kamara, respectively serving as the 2018 and 2013 presidential candidate, has registered a deep concern about the said mass deportation, urging both governments to prioritize dialogue and diplomacy to resolve this issue peacefully.
“Our shared history of cooperation and mutual respect must continue,” he said and appealed to the Guinean authorities to adhere to internationally accepted norms and standards.
According to Dr. Kamara, the two nations have a long history of peaceful coexistence and the free movement of people across borders, and we must, therefore, work together to maintain this bond on the basis of our shared values of peace, cooperation, and human dignity, noting that the ongoing deportation is a setback to these ideals.
“Let’s, reaffirm our commitment to regional integration, well-being of our citizens, and their free movement across the borders of the Mano River Union (MRU) and the wider ECOWAS while applying agreed Protocols,” he said, and added: “While respecting Guinea’s sovereignty, I strongly appeal to the Guinean authorities to demonstrate compassion.”
Dr. Kamara said due process must also be afforded to those facing deportation, in line with the principles of justice and human rights, noting that the shared humanity and regional solidarity of the sisterly nations demand that the two governments work together to address this crisis compassionately.
“Let us be guided by empathy and justice as we seek sustainable solutions for these affected families,” he concluded.