A third group of third-country nationals transferred from the United States under the Third Country National Agreement arrived at Freetown International Airport on Friday, 31 July 2026, bringing the total number of people received by Sierra Leone under the arrangement to 32.
The latest contingent comprised 10 nationals from countries within the Economic Community of West African States. The group included six Ghanaians, one Liberian, one Beninese, one Nigerian and one Togolese. Nine of the arrivals were male, while one was female.
Upon their arrival, the individuals underwent mandatory immigration, health and security procedures coordinated by several Sierra Leonean institutions. The agencies involved included the Sierra Leone Police, the Office of National Security, the Sierra Leone Immigration Department, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Following the completion of the required formalities, the group was officially handed over to Kenvah Solutions (SL) Limited, the private humanitarian and operational services provider contracted by the Government of Sierra Leone to manage the reception and welfare of individuals transferred under the agreement.
Kenvah Solutions (SL) Limited is responsible for providing temporary accommodation, welfare assistance and case-management services to the nationals while arrangements are made for their return to their respective countries of origin.
The company is also working closely with relevant Government institutions, diplomatic missions and consular authorities to secure the necessary travel documents, coordinate transportation and facilitate the timely onward repatriation of the individuals.
Sierra Leone has so far received 32 third-country nationals under the agreement with the United States. Twenty-two individuals who arrived with the first and second contingents have already been successfully repatriated to their countries of origin following the completion of consular and travel-documentation procedures.
The latest 10 arrivals are expected to remain temporarily under the care of Kenvah Solutions (SL) Limited while similar arrangements are completed for their onward departure.
The company said it remained committed to ensuring that all individuals received under the programme are treated with dignity and provided with appropriate humanitarian assistance throughout their temporary stay in Sierra Leone.
The Third Country National Agreement, signed in early 2026, allows Sierra Leone to temporarily receive up to 300 ECOWAS nationals transferred from the United States annually. The arrangement reportedly sets a monthly limit of 25 arrivals.
Under the agreement, Sierra Leone serves as a temporary transit country while consular, documentation and travel arrangements are completed for the return of the individuals to their home countries.
The programme is supported by a US$1.5 million grant from the United States Government to cover humanitarian, accommodation, transportation and other operational costs associated with receiving and repatriating the nationals.
The arrangement was designed as a structured and time-bound intervention intended to facilitate the safe and dignified transit of ECOWAS nationals pending their return to their respective countries.
Government institutions are expected to continue monitoring the programme to ensure compliance with Sierra Leone’s immigration, security, public health and humanitarian obligations.
