By Ishmael Bayoh, Information Attaché, Sierra Leone Embassy, Dakar
Freetown, 10th November 2025- The Sierra Leone Embassy in Senegal has launched a targeted campaign to confront the growing threats of human trafficking and drug abuse affecting Sierra Leonean communities in Senegal
Held on Sunday, November 9th, 2025, at the Paroisse Université–St. Dominique Hall in Fann, Dakar, the event drew Sierra Leoneans from across the country. But behind the gathering was an unfortunate reality, the campaign was born out of documented cases of trafficking and substance abuse, with the embassy repeatedly intervening to rescue victims and repatriate them.
Over the years, arrests of Sierra Leoneans for drug-related offenses have increased, casting a shadow over the diaspora and threatening the wellbeing of thousands. The embassy’s initiative is a direct response to this trend, aimed at protecting lives and preventing further stigmatization of Sierra Leoneans abroad.
Ambassador Ibrahim Turay condemned both practices, warning of their devastating impact, particularly on young people. He urged vigilance and restraint, especially among youth tempted by risky ventures or drug use.
“Trafficking in persons has destroyed lives and the future of many people, especially the young. Young people should be mindful of the ventures they undertake and desist from taking drugs. We must also prosecute those involved in the practice,” HE Ibrahim Turay, Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Senegal.
He cited a recent case involving an 11-year-old child rescued by the embassy after a relative attempted to traffic her to Mauritania. The perpetrator was apprehended by the gendarmerie and is now facing trial.
HE Ibrahim Turay, Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Senegal.
Ambassador Turay also referenced the intensified campaign back home against kush and substance abuse, noting President Julius Maada Bio’s directive for stringent national measures to combat the drug scourge.
Acting Head of Chancery, Evelyn Tanty Akakpo, shared harrowing accounts of trafficked teenage girls, many of whom ended up in prostitution and drug dependency. She stressed that such acts constitute human rights violations punishable by law in both Sierra Leone and Senegal.
The embassy plans to extend the campaign into local communities, working with key leaders and establishing a toll-free line for reporting cases, facilitating rescues, and supporting rehabilitation or repatriation where necessary.
This campaign seeks to disrupt cycles of exploitation, restore dignity, and protect Sierra Leoneans wherever they reside.
