Saving Sierra Leoneans Abroad

The recent article yesterday describing the ordeals undergone by a Sierra Leonean woman, Ms. Sarah Mansaray in Libya shows the constraints that our citizens go through while out of the country.

Ms. Mansaray has been suffering gross human rights abuses at the hands of Libyan authorities as she has been thrown into a deportation cell where she is now languishing with no hope of a court or a reprieve. (Photo: Ms. Sarah Mansaray)

Her case is baseless and is not an issue that involves detention in a dirty and dark cell in the Libyan Desert.

To make matters worse, our foreign mission responsible for Libya has not lifted a finger to help her, instead they are blaming her, and other Sierra Leoneans for coming to Libya in the first place!

It is rather sad that our foreign missions, not only in Libya have always maintained a negative attitude towards citizens whom they meet in the Diaspora, and whom they are supposed to represent.

It is first important to lecture our foreign mission representatives that their job is to look into the affairs of their citizens no matter the circumstances they find them.

This means that as representatives of our government abroad, they have the responsibility of representing their interests and in informing the host government about the constraints of any citizen.

Sadly, this concept is far from being realized by our missions abroad. This explains why Ms. Mansaray has been suffering under such a terrible condition, but which does not explain why she should be suffering.

Then there is also the issue of the Libyans and the manner in which they have been treating Africans. As leader of the African Union, it is rather discouraging to realise that Libya has always maintained a hostile relationship with black people South of the Sahara. Blacks are always treated as menial labourers and seen as sub-human. No matter of indoctrination has been able to change the average Libyan’s perception of black people.

Also, the fact that Libyans are welcome here in Sierra Leone, but Sierra Leoneans are not welcome in Libya shows that the Foreign Minister should embark on a proper education of the authorities in this country to ensure we are given the respect we have provided for them.

Apart from Libya, Sierra Leoneans are suffering as well in other countries. In neighbouring Gambia, Sierra Leoneans are subjected to all sorts of treatments, including being jailed in the maximum jail because of not having a foreign I.D. card issued by the Gambian Immigration Department.

In Sierra Leone, Gambians are accorded respect and are not even asked for residential permits. In Kono and Kenema where most Gambians are engaged in the diamond industry, there is no strict control affecting them and they move about the country and engage in their businesses with no hassle from either the immigration or the local authorities.

Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner to The Gambia has not raised a finger to help Sierra Leoneans in need of their foreign mission and this has dampened a lot of people who see that it is better to live as an independent individual than to depend on the Sierra Leone High Commission in The Gambia.

The same situation is said to be existing virtually all over the Globe where Sierra Leoneans and their embassies or high commissions are located.

The right to travel to another country is part of the rights as enshrined in the UN protocol on the right of movement. This means that every Sierra Leonean has the right to go to any country of his or her choice. If a citizen feels like travelling, it is not the business of the Ambassador or the High Commissioner to question that decision.

That is why we are calling on President Koroma not only to appoint individuals to the position of high commission or ambassador because of their closeness to him or the ruling party, but also how they relate to their compatriots and their inclination and professionalism as diplomats.

Appointing political opportunists to man such important areas will prove counter productive not only to the country but also to the government in power.

Please help Sarah Mansaray and others like her.

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