Dokument #1128167
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Autor)
The information that follows was provided
by the ambassador of Sierra Leone in Washington, DC, during a
telephone interview with the DIRB. This adds to the information
provided in Responses to Information Requests SLE19859.E of 28
February 1995, SLE17030.E of 10 May 1994 and other Responses
available through the Refinfo database.
Anyone can request permanent residence in,
or citizenship of, Sierra Leone by submitting a request to the
Immigration and Citizenship Board in Freetown. The requests can be
handed to a Sierra Leone diplomatic or consular representation
abroad, but they will only be forwarded to the pertinent
authorities in Freetown, who will in turn evaluate and decide on
the case. The request can be in the form of a letter stating who
the applicant is and the reasons for requesting residence or
citizenship from Sierra Leone authorities. Biographical information
on the requester, as well as any references and other supporting
information that could help the Immigration and Citizenship Board
in its decision (such as information on relatives in or from Sierra
Leone or the requester's links to the country), should be included
with the applicant's documentation or letter of request. The board
might request more information from the individual before taking a
decision on the application. Each case is evaluated by the board on
an individual basis.
Regarding circumstances that could warrant
denial of residence or citizenship, the source stated that the
child of a Sierra Leonean father would normally not face any
difficulties in obtaining either upon request. Although Sierra
Leone is a patrilineal society, children of a Sierra Leonean mother
can also acquire Sierra Leonean permanent residence and citizenship
without difficulty. In any case, the board responsible for a
decision would evaluate the particular circumstances of the
individual before taking a decision. The only current restrictions
for a child of a Sierra Leonean mother and a foreign father are
limited to the occupation of the country's highest public posts: a
person whose father is not a citizen of Sierra Leone cannot be
president or a cabinet minister of the country. However, this
restriction is currently being debated in Sierra Leone and could be
eliminated in the near future.
This Response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does
not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular
claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below a list of
sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Embassy of Sierra Leone, Washington, DC.
8 August 1995. Telephone interview with ambassador.