REFUGEE REFERRAL FOR SIERRA LEONE REFUGEE JOSEPH

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAKAR 002093

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR PRM/A, DRL/AE AND AF/W
ACCRA FOR REFCOORD
GENEVA FOR RMA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2016
TAGS: PREF PHUM SL GV SG
SUBJECT: REFUGEE REFERRAL FOR SIERRA LEONE REFUGEE JOSEPH
F.M. SANKOH


Classified By: DCM Robert P. Jackson for reasons 1.4 (d).

SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST
--------------

1. (C) Embassy Dakar requests authorization for a refugee
referral to the U.S. Resettlement Program on behalf of Sierra
Leone refugee Joseph F.M. Sankoh, who took refuge in Dakar in
March 2006. He, his wife and otehr family members previously
took refuge in Guinea in 1997. The family joined him in
Dakar on August 30, 2006. Sankoh has presented evidence of
persecution based on his political opinion and position as
personal assistant/secretary to former President Momoh. He
was exiled to Guinea in 1992, where he received refugee
status from UNHCR. However, he was arrested and imprisoned
twice (once in Sierra Leone and once in Guinea),and
ultimately forced to flee to Dakar in 2006. His
father-in-law was burned alive for harboring him and his
family during their original escape from Sierra Leone. He
and his family have received numerous threats, and his family
was recently taken by police in Guinea for questioning as to
Sankoh's whereabouts. After growing increasingly fearful for
their lives, his family joined him in Dakar, but they have no
means of financial or other support. Embassy believes their
lives are in immediate danger. END SUMMARY AND ACTION
REQUEST.

POST'S REFERRAL
--------------

2. (C) Post's refugee referral is for Joseph F.M. Sankoh
(DPOB: 26 SEP 1966, Simbaia, Sierra Leone) and his family who
are currently in hiding in Dakar. His family members' names
and DPOBs are:

Spouse: Aicha Sankoh (DPOB: 29 Sep 79, Makeni, Sierra Leone)
Daughter: Josephine Sankoh (DPOB: 2 Oct 99, Conakry, Guinea)
Son: Edward Sankoh (DPOB: 9 Dec 2000, Conakry, Guinea)
Daughter: Esther Sankoh (DPOB: 1 Apr 2003, Conakry, Guinea)
Brother: John Sankoh (DPOB: 14 Dec 64, Bendugu, Sierra Leone)
Brother: David Sankoh (DPOB: 14 Jan 77, Bendugu, Sierra Leone)
Sister: Kadiatu Sankoh (DPOB: 18 Mar 82, Bendugu, Sierra
Leone)
Spouse's Brother: Raymond Kamara (DPOB: 25 Jul 75, Makeni,
Sierra Leone)
Spouse's Brother: Moses Kamara (DPOB: 3 Aug 77, Makeni,
Sierra Leone)
Spouse's Brother: Djibril Kamara (DPOB: 1 Jan 80, Makeni,
Sierra Leone)
Spouse's Sister: Kadiatu Kamara (DPOB: 14 May 84, Makeni,
Sierra Leone)
Spouse's Brother: Kelvin Kamara (DPOB: 25 Aug 86, Makeni,
Sierr Leone)
Spouse's Sister's Daughter: Nampie Kamara(DPOB: 2 Nov 2001,
Conakry, Guinea)

In additin, Joseph has a son named Elijah Sankoh (DPOB: 29
Jun 89, Freetown, Sierra Leone),who was taken byhis
biological mother to Sierra Leone.


3. (C Sankoh finished his university education in Sierra
Leone in 1989. Upon completing his studies, he began working
as then President Joseph Momoh's personal
assistant/secretary. He was also related to Momoh by
marriage, and Momoh's wife "adopted" him as her son. In
1992, a military coup overthrew Momoh and sent Momoh and
Sankoh into exile in Guinea.


4. (C) They remained there until February 1997, when Sankoh
said he and Momoh were ordered to return to Sierra Leone,
along with all other politicians in exile. In May of that
year, there was another coup, followed by Momoh's arrest.
Sankoh and his family, in fear for their lives, escaped to
Makeni (in northern Sierra Leone),and then to Conakry. His
youngest daughter died during the escape. She got sick and
could not seek medical attention. While still in Makeni,
they stayed with Sankoh's father-in-law, who was later burned
alive for harboring them. In 1998, Sankoh was arrested in
Conakry and sent back to Sierra Leone. He spent 25 days in
prison, where his only food was an occasional portion of
cornmeal. He was freed when Revolutionary United Front
rebels burned down the prison.


5. (C) He returned to Conakry, where he remained with his
family and Momoh (who had since been freed from prison) until
Momoh's death in 2003. Momoh died shortly after receiving a
letter from the GOSL, denying Momoh's requests for the return

of his property, a diplomatic passport, and medical care. In
an interview with BBC after Momoh's death, Sankoh accused the
Government of Sierra Leone of being responsible for Momoh's
death. Just after that interview, Sankoh began receiving
threats to his life and intimidating visits from unknown
persons. In January 2006, Guinean security forces entered
his home and beat him and his family. They then arrested and
imprisoned him in the Central Prison of Conakry. He was
released in March, after the International Committtee of the
Red Cross intervened in his case. Immediately upon release,
he fled to Dakar, where he went into hiding. On August 9, he
heard reports that his family had been taken in by gendarmes
for hours of questioning about Sankoh's whereabouts. On
August 30, they succeeded in fleeing Conakry and joining
Sankoh in Dakar. He and his family are frightened and have
little money to survive.


6. (C) Post has corroborated Sankoh's story with Embassy
Freetown, which confirmed that Sankoh was not involved in
committing serious human rights violations. The Sankohs have
approached UNHCR/Dakar, but they have reportedly received no
assistance from the Dakar office.


7. (C) ACTION REQUEST: PRM's immediate consideration of this
request is greatly appreciated. END ACTION REQUEST.
JACOBS