During the colonial era and immediately after the acquisition of independence, Sierra Leone used to be a beacon in West Africa – the centre of learning and trade in English speaking West Africa. The economy of the country used to be so strong that the Pounds sterling and the Leones were at par. Sierra Leoneans had no need to migrate to the West in search of jobs, needless to talk about migrating to the Middle Eastern countries.
But with bad governance, especially during the 1970s, things started to fall apart in the country to an extent that the acquisition of jobs started to become a rare commodity. Making ends meet to become a challenge for most Sierra Leoneans, except for the few minorities who were politicians; or successful diamond miners and/or general businessmen; or the few that were “privileged” to have overseas support – having folks overseas became an assert.
Despite all the hardship ushered in by bad governance, regionalism and tribalism, yet, the ordinary Sierra Leone still loved and fond his native land – Sierra Leone was home, Sierra Leone was the best place to live. Migration to any Middle Eastern country in search of manual jobs was never his desire. The few who wanted to migrate, would prefer a Western country, rather than to a Middle Eastern country.
Migrations to Middle Eastern countries used to be a thing for East Africans, especially Ethiopians, Kenyans and Sudanese. Perhaps, with the 11 year civil war that broke out in 1991 in Sierra Leone, the hardship becomes much harder and even more prevalent. Sierra Leoneans were forced to move outside of the shores of their borders and many had to acquire firsthand knowledge of the progress other countries in the sub-region were making and how deploring life had been back in their beloved country. To make it more compounding, the introduction of the Internet in the early ’90s further increases the awareness of the ordinary Sierra Leonean.
Now, every single youth, and including strong adults, are all clamoring to make the journey out of the shores of the country, irrespective of the risk that it may cause to their lives and well-being. Hope has been lost in the political and governance system in the country – there is no longer hope in the political elites that they are capable of bringing in a positive change into the lives of the ordinary citizenry. Hope in a better Sierra Leone has dwindled, ushering a strong belief in a better life outside of the shores of the Sierra Leone.
What will force the ordinary Sierra Leonean to venture into the Sahara Desert, if it were not out of frustration?
What is it that can propel the youths to risk their lives into Mediterranean Sea, if it is not out of desperation?
What will force the country’s strong and energetic youths into the Middle Eastern countries, despites all the online reports of serious gross human rights abuses and ill treatments, if it is not as a result of the total loss of hope in the political system?
Once HOPE is lost, people can grab at any seemingly floating straw.
Ill treatments of Africans, especially Sierra Leoneans in these Middle Eastern countries are a course for concern to us all. But what can a father expect to become of his children if he cannot provide them with the most basic amenities and most basic necessities of life? Not even as basic as food!!!
Desperation has forced families to sell their properties in order to make such dangerous and sometimes very fatal journeys, all in the name of making enough in order to support their starving families back home. There are a number of families who have sold ancestral lands just to raise funds to make these journeys, with the hope and expectation of a brighter future. But sadly, this hope for a brighter future is dashed for a greater majority of these migrants. Instead of finding that expected greener pasture, they ended up facing all sorts of inhumane treatments: death, torture, loss of finances, incurable diseases, mental challenges, frustration, etc., etc.
In as much as people want to go overseas in search of the so-call greener pastures which our home country can’t provide, it is always better to use the appropriate channels. Certainly, there are few credible and genuine agencies that can facilitate the migration process. Although no one can rule out ill treatment, but once these credible agencies are consulted and one has done his/her proper and thorough due diligence, there may be hope for safeguards and protections. With a proper and thorough due diligence, one may have somewhere to resort to in case of any maltreatments from one’s boss.
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Ensuring also that the Ministry of Labour and Employment is aware of one’s trip to any of these Middle Eastern countries is very vital. Irrespective of the inefficiency and incapability of the Ministry to provide migrant workers with the adequate support and protection that they may require, but it is always better in keeping them aware of your trip, rather than not. Registering also with the Foreign Affair Ministry once in these countries is very important for our migrant’s wellbeing.
Going through appropriate agencies can help Sierra Leonean migrants not only by providing them with the support and protection they may require from wicked bosses, but can further assist them from being duped by these unsuspecting and unscrupulous agents who are asking for exorbitant fees from the poor migrants.
It’s unimaginable that an agent can ask for $10,000 fees per migrant to make the journey. Because most of these migrants can’t afford this amount, even after selling family lands, they are being asked by these unscrupulous agents that they can make half payments and once at their destinations, they can make the balance payments which can be deducted from their monthly wages. There are numerous reports were agents would seize the passports of migrants workers and have them work for years on end all in the name of making their balance payments. Migrants are thus not only faced with wicked bosses, but are also confronted with bad agents trying to extort funds from these migrants from their hard earn money. This is why it is very vital to get the various government ministries involved before embarking in such journeys, if at all you want to do so.
It is also in Sierra Leonean migrants best interest to ensure that they conform to the laws, customs and traditions of the host countries in which they find themselves. In as much as there have several appalling reports of ill treatments of Sierra Leonean migrant workers in these Middle Eastern countries, but there have also been numerous unconfirmed reports of bad and uncultured behaviours by some of these migrant workers. Although no-one can condole any sort of ill treatment meted by a boss to his or her domestic staff, but it is vital for domestic staff to properly maintain themselves whenever working in a foreign countries. If prostitution is an offence in a country, make sure not to involve in such trades and avoid stealing and all sorts of illegal activities.
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