A diplomatic row between Sierra Leone and the Netherlands is intensifying over extradition, with Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh questioning whether the Netherlands has shown Sierra Leone the same level of cooperation it expects from Freetown.
Speaking on AYV’s State of the Nation, Dr. Sengeh recalled Sierra Leone’s efforts to assist the Netherlands in pursuing a Sierra Leonean known as Adebayor.
“When we wanted to get a Sierra Leonean in Holland here, we sent the Attorney-General there. We sent the Foreign Affairs Minister there. The terrorist, yeah, we called him a terrorist, Adebayor. We went there. They refused extradition. We sent delegations there. Have they given us that due respect to come?”
The comments come amid continuing controversy over Dutch national Jos Leijdekkers, who is wanted in the Netherlands over serious drug-trafficking offences.
Dr. Sengeh said Sierra Leone’s security intelligence does not know where Leijdekkers is, urging anyone claiming to know his whereabouts to provide evidence.
“Hand on heart, our security intelligence does not know where Leijdekkers is. We cannot go by what these guys are saying… If they know, show the pictures.”
Dutch Minister of Justice and Security David van Weel, however, said the Netherlands will continue applying pressure to ensure Leijdekkers is eventually apprehended and incarcerated.
“We will continue our efforts to put pressure and make sure that, in the end, the only way for this to continue is with the incarceration of Mr. Leijdekkers.”
Van Weel also revealed that Sierra Leone and the Netherlands have been negotiating an extradition treaty for more than a year, but said the process has been slow.
“I’m very happy to conclude anything, but I need more assurance that steps will be taken in the right direction now.”
The Leijdekkers case has therefore become a major test of Sierra Leone-Netherlands security cooperation, with Freetown demanding evidence and reciprocity, while The Hague continues to push for the wanted Dutch national to face justice.
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