Dakar, Senegal – August 2025: Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Senegal, His Excellency Ibrahim Turay, held a town hall meeting over the weekend with members of the Sierra Leonean community in Dakar. The event, hosted at St. Dominique Hall in Fann, was part of the Embassy’s ongoing outreach efforts to strengthen ties with Sierra Leoneans living abroad.
The gathering drew Sierra Leoneans from diverse backgrounds, united by a shared interest in the welfare of their community and the activities of the Embassy. Acting Head of Chancery, Ms. Evelyn Tanty Akakpo, opened the meeting by emphasizing its purpose: to engage citizens, listen to their concerns, and explore ways the Embassy could offer support.
Ambassador Turay, who assumed office ten months ago, shared updates on his tenure, highlighting efforts to rebrand the Embassy and promote Sierra Leone’s image internationally. He announced the upcoming rollout of digitized consular cards, replacing the current manual system to improve efficiency and accessibility.
He also revealed that the Embassy is working with a Sierra Leonean legal expert to draft standardized employment contracts for nationals working on fishing vessels and construction sites—an initiative aimed at protecting workers’ rights and ensuring fair treatment.
Turning to pressing concerns, Ambassador Turay condemned the rise in trafficking in persons and drug-related offenses. He disclosed that six Sierra Leoneans were recently apprehended at the Dakar port for drug abuse and noted multiple reports of trafficking incidents. He warned that those involved would face the full force of the law and urged the community to remain vigilant and report such activities.
“The actions of a few can tarnish the reputation of many,” he said, calling on Sierra Leoneans in Senegal to be each other’s keepers and help safeguard the integrity of their community.
During the interactive session, attendees praised the Embassy’s proactive engagement and its efforts to elevate Sierra Leone’s profile. A key issue raised was the need to reconstitute the Sierra Leonean union in Senegal. Community members advocated for a single, democratically elected body to represent their interests and foster unity.
The town hall concluded with renewed commitment from both the Embassy and the community to collaborate on shared goals and uphold the values of Sierra Leone abroad.
Report by Ishmael Bayoh Information Attaché, Sierra Leone Embassy Dakar, Senegal