By Sallieu S, Kanu
The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) has intensified regional collaboration on migration and human trafficking following a strategic engagement with the ECOWAS Commission Office in Sierra Leone on 7th May 2026.
Welcoming the HRCSL delegation, His Excellency Ambassador John Azuma, ECOWAS Resident Representative, expressed appreciation for the visit and reaffirmed ECOWAS’s commitment to stronger cooperation on migration and border management.
Commissioner Hassan Samba Yarjah explained that the establishment of HRCSL’s Directorate of Migration and Human Trafficking reflects the Commission’s determination to address cross-border migration and trafficking in persons. He emphasized that the partnership with ECOWAS will deepen institutional collaboration and strengthen implementation of regional frameworks.
Executive Secretary Joseph Kamara highlighted HRCSL’s Grade “A” status as a national human rights institution, noting that collaboration with ECOWAS will enhance human rights-based approaches to migration governance. He pointed to regional instruments such as the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement, the African Continental Free Trade Area, and ECOWAS protocols on democracy, elections, rule of law, and good governance as critical frameworks for cooperation.
Director of Migration and Human Trafficking, Sidratu Kargbo, urged intensified efforts toward implementing the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement and the ECOWAS-TIP Plus Strategy. She also encouraged exploring ICMPD funding opportunities and capacity-building initiatives for HRCSL staff.
Commissioner Simitie Lavally underscored the importance of collaboration in advancing treaty implementation, highlighting HRCSL’s nationwide presence across Sierra Leone’s five regions.
ECOWAS Perspective
Ambassador Azuma described migration as a cross-cutting issue requiring orderly management, while Political Advisor Fonsho Ibrahim stressed the need for political will and institutional capacity in implementing the Free Movement Protocol.
Next Steps
The meeting concluded with agreements to establish quarterly engagements between HRCSL and ECOWAS Sierra Leone, and to appoint focal persons from both institutions. The maiden meeting is scheduled for July 2026.
This engagement marks a significant step in Sierra Leone’s efforts to align national human rights priorities with regional migration governance