The government of Sierra Leone has evacuated 24 nationals and diplomatic staff from Iran due to rising military tensions in the region. Authorities confirmed the group was safely relocated to Armenia as a precaution.
Those evacuated include 14 students, one private citizen, three diplomats, and six locally recruited embassy staff from Sierra Leone’s mission in Tehran. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said emergency protocols were activated as the security situation worsened.
The government urged Sierra Leoneans still in affected areas to follow local safety directives, including curfews and emergency procedures, and to stay in close contact with diplomatic missions. Citizens in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Israel have been confirmed safe.
The evacuation follows escalating hostilities between Iran, Israel, and the United States after a joint strike killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, triggering retaliatory missile attacks. The crisis has disrupted aviation and led to airport closures across parts of the Middle East.
The African Union has called for restraint. AU Commission Chairperson Mahamoud Ali Youssouf urged urgent de-escalation, warning that prolonged conflict could have serious global and African consequences.
Source: TRT Africa
