By Ishmael Bayoh

The Sierra Leone Embassy in Senegal on Sunday November 9th, 2025 launched two campaigns against trafficking in persons and drugs abuse.

The launching was done at the Paroisse Universite- St. Dominique Hall, Fann in Dakar which brought in Sierra Leoneans from all over Senegal.

The embassy’s campaign was as a result of documented incidences of human trafficking and drugs abuse. The embassy has had cause to intervene on several instances to rescue victims of human trafficking as well as repatriate them to Sierra Leone. These numbers have been alarming over the years in Senegal and in Mauritania which is also covered by the embassy.

On the issue of drugs and substance abuse, reported cases of arrests of Sierra Leoneans have increased over the years and the effect it is having within the Sierra Leonean communities must be discouraged. This has led the embassy to act in order to prevent the lives of the thousands of Sierra Leoneans and to also prevent stigmatization against the country and its people.

During the launching, Sierra Leone’s ambassador to Senegal, HE Ibrahim Turay frowned at the practices of human trafficking and drugs abuse. He explained the dangers of trafficking in persons and how it has destroyed lives and the future of many people, especially the young. He sent out a message to the young people to be mindful of the ventures they undertake and to also desist from taking drugs; prosecute those involved in the practice.

He also explained about a recent incidence that happened two weeks ago involving an 11 years old child rescued by the embassy who was to be trafficked to Mauritania by a relative. The perpetrator was apprehended by the gendarmerie and is facing trials.

Ambassador Turay explained to them the heightened campaign back home in Sierra Leone against kush and substance abuse and how His Excellency, President Julius Maada Bio has instructed stringent measures to get rid of the drug scourge.

The Acting Head of Chancery, Evelyn Tanty Akakpo narrated the horrific accounts of trafficking involving teenage girls and how many have ended into prostitution and drugs abuse. She called on those engaged in such acts that it is a human right abuse punishable by law both in Sierra Leone and in Senegal. She said the embassy will be doing the campaign in the various communities involving key community leaders and have established a toll-free line for complaints, rescue, prosecution, rehabilitation or repatriation of victims where necessary.

The Author is the Information Attachè, Sierra Leone Embassy Dakar, Senegal