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Flagbearer aspirant of the opposition All People’s Congress (APC), Osman Abdal Timbo, has strongly reacted to a controversial immigration notice circulated by authorities at the Freetown International Airport in Lungi, describing the communication as “shameful” and questioning its interpretation regarding entry requirements for foreign nationals traveling to Sierra Leone.
Timbo’s reaction followed the emergence of an official correspondence dated 7th May 2026 from the Sierra Leone Immigration Service under the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The letter, signed by Harry Cowan, identified as Head of Immigration at the Freetown International Airport-Lungi, was addressed to several international airlines including Asky Airline, Ethiopian Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Turkish Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Air Peace, Air Sierra Leone and Kenya Airways.
The document, with the subject “Non-Citizen Checks for Resident Permit Card and Work Permit Card,” instructed airlines operating at the Freetown International Airport not to allow non-citizen passengers who are resident permit holders or work permit holders in Sierra Leone to board flights without authentic resident and work permit cards.
According to the letter, airlines that fail to comply with the directive could face a penalty of US$3,000. The notice further encouraged airline officials at check-in counters to screen and verify passengers’ resident and work permit documents before allowing them to board flights to Sierra Leone.
Parts of the letter, however, have triggered confusion and public debate due to the wording used in the communication, with some readers questioning whether the directive applies to all foreign travelers entering Sierra Leone or only to non-citizens who already hold residence or work permits in the country.
Reacting publicly to the document, Osman Timbo criticized both the clarity and grammar of the statement, saying the communication was difficult to understand.
“Shameful!! I still cannot make sense of this. Can someone please explain. This English written is not making proper sense,” Timbo stated.
The APC flagbearer aspirant further questioned whether the directive implied that every foreign national traveling to Sierra Leone must possess a residence permit or work permit in addition to a visa.
“Is this man saying that every non-citizen traveling to Sierra Leone ‘MUST’ have a resident or work permit? So visas are not enough for visitors?” he asked.
Timbo also directly appealed to Chief Immigration Officer Moses Tiffa Baio to provide clarity on the issue. “Please Chief Immigration Officer Moses Tiffa Baio help us understand this,” he added.
The document has since attracted widespread reactions on social media, with many citizens and travelers expressing uncertainty over the interpretation of the immigration directive and its possible implications for visitors entering Sierra Leone.
As of press time, there has been no official clarification issued by the Sierra Leone Immigration Service or Chief Immigration Officer Moses Tiffa Baio regarding the concerns raised by Timbo and members of the public.
