Sierra Leone and Guinea Agree Measures on Migration, Trade and Border Security

Sierra Leone and Guinea have agreed on a package of measures covering the status of their nationals, cross-border commerce, border security and organized overseas employment travel.

The decisions followed bilateral engagements in Conakry on September 9, 2026, led by Sierra Leone’s Vice President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh and Guinea’s Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah. Officials from both governments also held an inter-ministerial working meeting on immigration, labour and employment, trade, consular affairs, security and the lawful movement of citizens.

Regularization and consular registration

Under the arrangements, the governments will support Sierra Leoneans and Guineans living and working in each other’s countries to obtain the residence and employment documents required under national laws and regional free-movement arrangements.

The measure is intended to help workers move from informal employment into the formal economy, where applicable labour protections, social security and other rights may apply.

Both governments will also encourage their nationals to register voluntarily with their embassies or designated consular authorities. The registration will not be an additional condition for lawful entry, residence or movement.

Overseas employment travel

The countries agreed to temporarily suspend facilitated large-group travel for employment in third countries when such groups plan to transit through the other country’s international airport. The arrangement includes travel linked to destinations in the Middle East.

According to the governments, the temporary measure will provide time to develop safeguards against human trafficking, migrant smuggling, fraudulent recruitment, exploitation, mass deportation and related risks. Procedures for implementing the arrangement are expected to be developed in the coming weeks.

The suspension does not apply to ordinary individual, family, business, official or other lawful travel between Sierra Leone and Guinea. Its duration and start date were not specified.

Border security and cross-border trade

Sierra Leone and Guinea reaffirmed cooperation under the Tripartite Communiqué on border security. They also agreed to work with Liberia and, where appropriate, the Mano River Union on security cooperation, information-sharing and regional coordination.

A separate joint mechanism will be established to identify, register and support Sierra Leonean and Guinean nationals involved in cross-border commercial activities. Officials will explore simple reciprocal registration arrangements, which may include a mutually recognized trader identification mechanism or trader’s card.

No new trader identification requirement will take effect until the procedures have been agreed and communicated to affected traders.

Joint oversight

The governments will establish a Joint Inter-Ministerial Committee and a Joint Technical Committee to coordinate, monitor and facilitate implementation of the agreed measures. The Joint Technical Committee is expected to submit an implementation status report every six months.

The countries also committed to public sensitization before measures directly affecting citizens are introduced.