Samuel Kallon 
By: Amara Kargbo
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Sierra Leone, Alhaji Timothy Musa Kabba, held a productive bilateral discussions with his Guinean counterpart, Dr. Morissanda Kouyate, emphasizing the enduring partnership between the two nations and on the situation in Conakry-Guinea, saying it is calm now.
The discussion was held on the heels of a meeting that took place at Salone’s Presidential house (State House), on the 17th of December, 2024 with His Excellence President Julius Maada Bio and the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Guinea, as a special envoy, President Mamadi Doumbouya, the President of the Republic of Guinea.
Minister Kabba expressed Sierra Leone’s government’s strong disapproval of the deportation by the Guinean government of some Sierra Leoneans.
That happened on December 10, a day celebrated all over the world as Human Rights Days.
He was stressing the need to protect the rights of his country’s fellowmen.
He noted that both embassies in Freetown and Conakry have been actively engaged in addressing the situation.
“This matter is of great importance to me, His Excellency, and the government of Sierra Leone,” he said.
“It was not a full-blown situation that created tension in Conakry, the operation has ceased.”
The reason why most Sierra Leoneans had been deported was the Guinean government had wanted to clear of a particular area for development purposes where the Sierra Leonean nationals had been living.
“The operation aimed at clearing of a specific area for development, and it was not intended to profile, deport, or victimize Sierra Leoneans,” the minister found out.
Many other nationals were involved, and there were indeed Sierra Leoneans who were rounded up, who used to live at different addresses in Conakry and have requested to be returned there to live.
During the meeting, Minister Kabba revealed that President Mamadi Doumbouya of Guinea sent Dr. Kouyate with a special message for Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Maada Bio, aimed at resolving misunderstandings arising from the deportation incident of mainly Sierra Leonean nationals.
Kabba highlighted the historical ties between Sierra Leone and Guinea, stating, “Our bilateral relations have existed even before all of us sitting here today, and we value the relationship between the two republics.”
Dr. Kouyate declared that the two presidents are like brothers and would not allow any issues to disrupt the harmony existing among their people.
He recalled of the long-standing presence of Sierra Leoneans in Guinea, particularly in Temne Town, where many have sought refuge during times of conflict like the Civil of War of 1991-2022 (Sierra Leone War)
“There is no door between us,” he emphasized, noting the mutual support that has characterized their relationship over the years.
He affirmed that, currently, the situation is calm, and people are not being evacuated to the border area.
The two presidents communicated diplomatically, while the envoy spoke to the presidents and convey important messages.
Both ministers addressed the recent unrest in Conakry, clarifying that the situation was not over broader tensions.
It was emphasized that operation that led to the deportations was aimed at clearing areas for development and was not intended to target Sierra Leoneans specifically.
Minister Kouyate assured that no Sierra Leonean would face imprisonment and that efforts are underway to ensure fair treatment for all.
He urged the media to help communicate this message to the public, thus reiterating that Sierra Leoneans, in Guinea, will not experience further discrimination.
The situation in Conakry has since stabilized, with no further deportations occurring.
The two leaders have committed to maintaining open lines of communication to prevent future misunderstandings.
As the diplomatic dialogue continues, both nations have reaffirmed their commitment to fostering a peaceful and cooperative environment for their citizens, thereby ensuring that the bond that long existed between Sierra Leone and Guinea remains ever strong.
