The Sierra Leone Embassy in Dakar, Senegal also accredited to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and the Republic of Cape Verde on Monday, 9th June 2025, commenced issuing over 200 laissez-passers to Sierra Leoneans in Mauritania who wish to voluntarily return home.
With support from the Sierra Leone National Union in Mauritania, the issuance process is taking place at ‘CANAL’ in Nouakchott, a community easily accessible to Sierra Leonean residents.
On 22nd May 2025, embassy officials traveled to Mauritania to verify and register Sierra Leoneans in need of laissez-passers. This verification exercise was prompted by ongoing arrests and deportations of foreign nationals lacking legal status in Mauritania.
To date, the embassy has repatriated and facilitated the return of 47 and 87 Sierra Leoneans on two separate occasions from Mauritania.
During the verification process, over 500 Sierra Leoneans were registered. The embassy is now issuing laissez-passers to those who wish to return voluntarily. Sierra Leoneans already deported to the border town of Rosso have received theirs, while the embassy is preparing additional documents for issuance.