Sierra Leone

The Multi-country Office (MCO) Senegal is based in Dakar. It is responsible for operations in Sierra Leone, Benin, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Togo, The Gambia, Cabo Verde, and Senegal. There are National UNHCR Offices in Togo, Guinea, and Guinea Bissau.

As of September 2021, the MCO countries host a total of 46,891 refugees and asylum seekers, most of whom are in protracted situations.

The overall situation in the MCO countries is one of relative political stability and economic security. Nonetheless, a potential spillover of terrorist operations in Burkina Faso and Niger bordering Benin and Togo has been raising concerns of potential population flows due to insecurity.

Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic that led to the lockdown of economies and the closure of borders had social, economic, and political implications on the livelihoods of refugees and host communities. It undermined the communities’ resilience and hindered access to solutions for protracted refugee caseloads. Integration of refugee caseloads has already taken place for years in most contexts, with solutions strategies and roadmaps discussed, agreed upon and partially implemented.

UNHCR’s proposal, jointly with Governments, of clear legal solutions for naturalization and residence permits for long-staying refugees, is expected to help stabilize PoCs status in the region.