Germany Government to Withold Deportation

The National Coordinator of Network of Ex-Asylum Seekers on 54 Wellington Street, Freetown, Mr. Abdulai Daramy has revealed his organisation has just received confirmed information from the Germany Government that Sierra Leoneans are excluded from any form of deportation; instead, they have been given time to regulate their stay according to the German immigration law.

They are also not prohibited from any work to sustain their livelihood according to the information.

Mr. Daramy, who said their organization is sponsored by Germany-based Medico International, says the hundreds of Sierra Leoneans who protested during the verification process when Sierra Leonean officials were invited to identify the migrants, ended in favour of Sierra Leoneans migrants. Thanks to the intervention of His Excellency President Brig. (Rtd) Julius Maada Bio’s diplomatic presence in Germany, who acted promptly upon instructions received from the Sierra Leone Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Mr. Daramy said President Bio’s government is currently reviewing a migration policy that has been facilitated by the International Office of Migration (IOM) that will lay out procedures for migration and introduce humane policies aimed at assisting migrants in their host countries and others who may face deportation elsewhere in the world.

The National Coordinator said the President’s opening of new Embassies in Kenya, South Korea and other countries is quite apt, noting Sierra Leonean migrants are everywhere in the global community and may require assistance from the nearest embassies. He furthered that the organization is in constant communication with the Sierra Leonean groups in Germany and elsewhere to facilitate information about their status as from time to time.

According to The Satellite Newspaper, Mr. Daramy showered praises on President Bio for giving Sierra Leonean migrants in Germany respite that since deportation through diplomacy.

It could be recalled that since Sierra Leoneans were banned from travelling for 90 days in many countries around the world under the Commonwealth Agreement, this is the first time in our 60 years of independence that a sitting President has done extremely well in protecting his compatriots in the Diaspora.