The Governments of Sierra Leone and Guinea have agreed on a comprehensive package of measures aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation, protecting their nationals, improving cross-border trade and employment arrangements, enhancing border security and regulating certain forms of overseas employment travel.
The agreements followed a high-level working visit to Conakry by a Sierra Leone Government delegation led by Vice President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh. The Sierra Leonean delegation held bilateral engagements with the Government of Guinea, led by Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah, on September 9, 2026.
The engagement reaffirmed the longstanding friendship and good neighbourliness between Sierra Leone and Guinea and provided strategic direction for addressing issues affecting both countries and their citizens.
Following the high-level talks, officials from the two countries convened an inter-ministerial working meeting at Guinea’s Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization. Discussions centred on immigration, labour and employment, trade, consular affairs, security and the safe and lawful movement of citizens between the two neighbouring countries.
One of the major outcomes was an agreement to facilitate the regularization of Sierra Leoneans and Guineans living and working in each other’s country. Authorities will support nationals in obtaining the necessary residence and employment documentation in accordance with national laws and regional free-movement arrangements.
Special attention will be given to workers, with both Governments seeking to facilitate their movement from informal employment into the formal economy, where they can benefit from labour protections, social security and other applicable rights.
Both Governments also agreed to encourage their nationals living in the neighbouring country to voluntarily register with their respective embassies or designated consular authorities. The arrangement is intended to strengthen consular protection and improve access to identification documents and other consular services. However, such registration will not constitute an additional requirement for lawful entry, residence or movement.
A significant aspect of the agreement relates to overseas employment travel. Sierra Leone and Guinea reaffirmed the right of their citizens to travel between both countries, including through their international airports, under applicable laws and ECOWAS and Mano River Union free-movement frameworks.
However, the two Governments agreed to temporarily suspend facilitated large-group travel arrangements for employment in third countries, including destinations in the Middle East, where such groups intend to transit through the other country’s international airport.
According to the agreement, the temporary measure is designed to allow authorities to develop safeguards against human trafficking, migrant smuggling, fraudulent recruitment, exploitation, mass deportation and other risks associated with irregular overseas employment.
The measure does not affect ordinary individual, family, business, official or other lawful travel between Sierra Leone and Guinea. It applies specifically to facilitate large-group employment travel through the other country’s airport. Authorities are expected to develop the necessary procedures in the coming weeks.
Border security also featured prominently in the discussions. Sierra Leone and Guinea reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the Tripartite Communiqué on border security signed by the Heads of State of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The two countries agreed to work with Liberia and, where appropriate, the Mano River Union to strengthen border security, information-sharing and regional coordination.
On cross-border commerce, the two Governments agreed to establish a joint mechanism to identify, register and support Sierra Leonean and Guinean nationals engaged in commercial activities in each other’s territory.
The initiative seeks to promote lawful trade, protect traders and encourage businesses to transition into the formal economy. Authorities will explore simple and reciprocal registration arrangements, including the possibility of a mutually recognized trader identification mechanism or trader’s card. No new trader identification requirement will take effect until procedures have been agreed and communicated to affected traders.
To ensure that the agreements move beyond diplomatic commitments, Sierra Leone and Guinea further agreed to establish a Joint Inter-Ministerial Committee and a Joint Technical Committee to coordinate, monitor and facilitate implementation.
Sierra Leone’s representation on the Joint Inter-Ministerial Committee will include the Minister of Internal Affairs, Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Minister of Information and Civic Education, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Trade and Industry and Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Guinea.
The Joint Technical Committee will bring together senior officials from relevant institutions dealing with immigration and border management, foreign affairs, labour and employment, trade, security, information and public communication. It will develop implementation arrangements and periodically report progress and challenges to the Joint Inter-Ministerial Committee.
Both Governments agreed that implementation will be guided by reciprocity, mutual respect, transparency, non-discrimination, protection of nationals and respect for national and regional legal frameworks. Authorities will also conduct public sensitization before measures directly affecting citizens are implemented.
The Joint Technical Committee is expected to submit an implementation status report every six months, while the ministerial body will review progress and issue further directions where necessary.
The agreement concluded with both Governments reaffirming their commitment to continued dialogue and cooperation aimed at strengthening the longstanding relationship between the peoples and Governments of Sierra Leone and Guinea.
