Freetown, Sierra Leone – In a coordinated effort between the Sierra Leone Embassy in Tehran and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), three Sierra Leonean women who were stranded at the Iran-Iraq border have been successfully repatriated to Freetown.
The women, who left Sierra Leone in 2021 and 2022 in pursuit of better opportunities, had traveled to the Kurdistan region of Iraq. There, they worked as domestic staff while saving to continue their journey to Europe through Turkey. However, their migration plans took a tragic turn when a Tehran-based agent—identified only as Hassan—failed to fulfill his promise of helping them cross into Europe for a fee of \$2,000 each.
Left stranded and unable to reach the agent, the women were eventually robbed and lost all their belongings. Iranian authorities intervened, taking them into protective custody before transferring them to the Sierra Leonean Embassy in Tehran.
With support from the IOM, the embassy facilitated the women’s travel documents and coordinated their safe return to Sierra Leone.
Ambassador Salamu Koroma received the women personally and underscored the embassy’s commitment to safeguarding Sierra Leonean nationals abroad.
Ambassador Koroma warned against the rising trend of irregular migration, emphasizing the dangers faced by young Sierra Leoneans attempting risky journeys.
“While we understand the difficulties at home, the path of irregular migration is filled with uncertainties and risks. Your best chance lies in building a future in Sierra Leone,” he said.
He also encouraged the returnees to make use of the vocational skills they acquired while abroad to reintegrate and rebuild their lives.
The women, who are now back in Freetown, expressed appreciation for the embassy’s intervention. They noted that despite their ordeal, they had gained valuable training overseas and plan to apply those skills for a fresh start.
The Sierra Leone Embassy in Iran continues to play a key role in assisting distressed citizens and advocating for their welfare across the region.
