FREETOWN, Aug. 21– The Sierra Leonean government has clarified that its citizens are not banned from traveling to or transiting through Guinea, provided they hold valid travel documents and meet relevant immigration and security requirements.
In a public notice issued Thursday, the Ministry of Information and Civic Education said restrictions apply to Sierra Leoneans seeking to use Guinea as a transit route for irregular migration or overseas employment outside established procedures.
The ministry said Guinean authorities had raised concerns over cases involving irregular migration, suspected human trafficking and unverified overseas employment arrangements.
Sierra Leoneans intending to work abroad were urged to comply with lawful recruitment, labor and immigration procedures and verify overseas employment arrangements through the Ministry of Employment, Labor and Social Security before traveling, said the notice.
The government cautioned citizens against using Guinea or other transit routes to bypass established procedures, warning that doing so could expose travelers to trafficking, exploitation, fraudulent job offers and other travel difficulties.
The government said it would continue working with Guinean authorities and international partners to facilitate legitimate travel and protect Sierra Leonean citizens. (Namibia Daily News / Xinhua)
