By Michaella Faith Wright

Sierra Leonean migrants living in The Gambia have shared their tough experiences of deception, unemployment, and stigma but say patience, hard work, and responsible living are the keys to survival in a foreign land.

Bamie Bendu, who arrived in The Gambia nearly three years ago, said he was lured by a promise of a job that never existed. “The man who convinced me to come here switched off his phone the day I arrived. I couldn’t reach him,” he recalled.

Stranded at the park with no contact or shelter, he turned to a fellow traveller he met on the bus. “We searched for other Sierra Leoneans and met a man who secretly housed us in a place he was caretaking. The owner didn’t know we were there,” Bendu said.

Later, Bendu and his friend moved to sleep in an unfinished building before finding small jobs and a place to stay. He worked in security and travelled to Mali and Burkina Faso for construction work, but the projects failed. Returning to The Gambia, Bendu later joined the betting business. “I started working for someone but now have my own machine. The journey taught me patience and humility,” he said.

Anwarr Abass Kamara, 32, has spent four years in The Gambia. “A friend promised me a $350 job, but it was a lie. Jobs here come by chance, and house rent is very expensive,” he said.

Kamara also spoke on the damaged reputation of Sierra Leoneans. “Some of our brothers spoil our name. Police suspect us of drugs and fights. Gambia is peaceful, so we must behave well and be responsible,” he advised.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Friday, 27th June, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)