Guinea obstructing asylum seekers, Refugees International says

Guinea has erected “bureaucratic obstacles” to keep Sierra Leonean refugees out of the country, the US-based Refugees International said yesterday. In a statement received today by IRIN, it said Guinean officials were making it difficult for Sierra Leonean refugees to cross into the country because of concern about possible rebel infiltrators. Although only about 500 new Sierran Leonean refugees, arriving mostly by boat, have been registered in Guinea so far, others may be crossing at unofficial border points, Refugees International said, warning that major new refugee and IDP flows could follow if immediate action were not taken to provide aid to Freetown residents as soon as the fighting ceased.