In a major step toward strengthening identity management and supporting the reintegration of Sierra Leonean returnees, on the 7 October 2025, the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA), in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), has begun implementing their newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
On Tuesday, an NCRA mobile registration team deployed to the Old Lungi International Airport provided essential identity documents including National ID Cards and Birth Certificates to 145 Sierra Leonean migrants who recently returned from Mauritania through IOM’s Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) program, supported by the European Union.
The on-site exercise marks the first practical outcome of the NCRA–IOM partnership, which seeks to streamline identity verification and facilitate the socio-economic reintegration of vulnerable Sierra Leonean returnees.
Many of the returnees, who had endured hardship and displacement in the Sahel region due to economic instability and border disruptions, often return home without the necessary documentation to access essential services. Without recognized identification, they face significant barriers to healthcare, education, banking, and employment opportunities.
By issuing ID cards and birth certificates immediately upon arrival, the NCRA has ensured that returnees can reintegrate with dignity and regain access to public and social services from day one.
Speaking on the significance of the exercise, NCRA Director General Mohamed Mubashir Massaquoi emphasized that the collaboration with IOM ensures that “returning Sierra Leoneans aren’t just welcomed home they are equipped with the tools they need to rebuild their lives.”
He underscored that the identity documents provided form “the foundation of dignity and opportunity,” aligning with President Julius Maada Bio’s vision of inclusive governance, where every citizen, regardless of location or circumstance, is recognized and empowered.
The recently signed MoU builds upon earlier collaborative efforts, including a 2024 NCRA–IOM engagement that successfully addressed the identity needs of over 2,000 Sierra Leoneans.
This latest initiative represents the first phase of a broader national rollout targeting 1,000 beneficiaries under the new agreement. The long-term goal is to combat statelessness, achieve universal identity coverage, and ensure that no Sierra Leonean is left behind, particularly those returning from difficult migration experiences.
The returnees expressed heartfelt appreciation to both IOM and NCRA for their swift and compassionate support. “We are deeply grateful for this assistance,” one returnee shared. “We now have our documents and are looking forward to starting life all over again in our own country.”
This airport-based delivery symbolizes a tangible commitment by the Government of Sierra Leone and its partners to uphold human rights, inclusivity, and resilience in migration management.
The NCRA reaffirmed that similar outreach and registration missions will continue across the country, ensuring that every Sierra Leonean including those returning home has access to a verified legal identity and the opportunities that come with it.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Friday, 10th October 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
