The two men met at an open Liberia market. They are both Sierra Leoneans. The one is a second hand clothe seller in Monrovia; the other is a long journey bus conductor between Sierra Leone, Liberia and Gambia.
They were both surprised to have met at a strange country after they had lived up in the same compound at around Allen Town, east of Freetown.
“When I saw my guy in Monrovia, he was surprised to see me; he asked me what I was doing there. I told him I am a bus conductor.”
“He has been selling used clothes in Monrovia and he intends to come to Sierra Leone, however; for a short visit,” says the bus conductor.
Many young Sierra Leoneans have left their country for Liberia, Guinea, Gambia and Senegal.
Talking to the bus conductor about the reason why many youth abandon Sierra Leone for neighbouring countries in West Africa, he said, they have been leaving to find better paid jobs or do business.
The apprentice himself including two others is determined to change his fate.
“I wish my boss [driver] lands in Senegal; I will never return to Sierra Leone again; my friend is even planning to stay in Gambia since life in Bamako is lively and jobs are there.”
“There are many of our colleagues from Sierra Leone working there; while some are doing business there, “he explained.
Trust me, he added, Yayah Jammeh (former Gambian president) really developed Gambia.
He said there are many Gambians who wish to see Jammeh return to power.
On the political tense atmosphere in Sierra Leone, the young man doubted why there were army men on checkpoints in the capital Freetown.
“I just arrived this afternoon today [meaning Tuesday 16, January] but while coming we have been seeing police and soldiers on high alert at various checkpoints in the country. That is not good for our country; other countries [ he meant, Liberia and Gambia] in West Africa are very peaceful.”
The security alert in the country followed rumours of a civil protest plan the next day, Wednesday 17, 2024 in Sierra Leone.
Since the general elections on June 24, 2023, other similar protests or demonstrations had happened in Sierra Leone, causing the loss of businesses and many innocent people as they are killed by security gun shots at protest periods.