By Hassan Osman Kargbo
Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Senegal, His Excellency Ibrahim Turay, has made a compelling appeal for the establishment of a holden facility for migrants under the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Senegal. This call was made during the 3rd Steering Committee meeting of the Migrant Protection and Reintegration in Sub-Saharan Africa (MPRR-SSA) program held on Tuesday, 22nd April 2025, at the King Fahd Palace Hotel in Dakar.
The high-level meeting brought together representatives from embassies, government institutions, and migration experts, with support from the European Union (EU). The event aimed to assess progress and discuss strategies to enhance protection and reintegration services for migrants across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Ambassador Turay used the platform to highlight the urgent need for a dedicated IOM holden facility in Senegal to cater to vulnerable migrants, many of whom pass through or settle in the country en route to other destinations.
“Senegal has become a major transit and destination point for migrants from Gambia, Guinea Conakry, and Sierra Leone,” Ambassador Turay noted. “Due to the absence of a holden facility, many cases brought to IOM’s attention are delayed, leaving already vulnerable migrants without shelter or basic protection while awaiting processing.”
He stressed that a holden facility would not only expedite assistance processes but also ensure migrants are treated with dignity and safeguarded from further exploitation and abuse. According to the Ambassador, the Sierra Leone Embassy in Dakar frequently handles cases of trafficking and undocumented migration involving its nationals, underscoring the urgency for improved infrastructure and resources.
Ambassador Turay also raised concerns about the treatment of migrants in Mauritania, particularly the undignified deportations to the Senegalese border town of Rosso, where many are left stranded without adequate support, emphasizing the need for coordinated regional mechanisms that prioritize human rights and uphold international standards of care for displaced persons.
The MPRR-SSA program, which is supported by the EU and implemented by IOM, is the largest migrant protection initiative across Sub-Saharan Africa. It currently operates in over 20 countries, delivering assistance to both migrants in transit and those returning to their countries of origin.
As of the latest figures, the program has provided support to 106,277 migrants upon arrival and helped 92,474 individuals reintegrate into their communities across the continent. The initiative also targets vulnerable groups such as unaccompanied and separated children, survivors of trafficking, and migrants subjected to violence or exploitation during their journeys.
The program’s focus extends to 16 key countries, including Sierra Leone, Senegal, The Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, Mali, Mauritania, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Chad, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Niger, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Sudan.
Ambassador Turay’s intervention has been widely acknowledged by stakeholders as a practical and timely recommendation, particularly in light of increasing migration flows in the West African sub-region. The call for a holden facility aligns with broader efforts to strengthen migrant protection infrastructure and provide humane, efficient solutions to migration challenges.
As the MPRR-SSA program continues to expand its scope, the inclusion of facilities that offer safe temporary accommodation and services could significantly enhance the dignity, safety, and well-being of migrants navigating complex and often dangerous routes through the region.
