ECOWAS Sends Fact-Finding Mission to Yenga Amid Border Concerns

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has expressed concern over escalating tensions along the borders of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, urging all parties to exercise restraint and resolve disputes through dialogue.

In a statement released on Friday, the regional bloc said it is closely monitoring developments and will deploy a technical assessment mission to the disputed Yenga area, a historically sensitive region due to longstanding territorial disagreements between Guinea and Sierra Leone.

ECOWAS noted that recent tensions along the Lofa County border between Guinea and Liberia have further complicated the situation. Consequently, the mission’s scope has been expanded to assess potential friction points across the Mano River Basin, a region known for both cross-border cooperation and historical disputes.

“The ECOWAS Commission is deploying a technical assessment mission to evaluate the situation between Guinea and Sierra Leone in the Yenga border area,” the statement read. It added that the Commission has initiated diplomatic engagements with the affected countries to gather information and ease tensions.

The bloc called on all governments involved to respect internationally recognized boundaries, avoid unilateral actions, and prioritize dialogue through ECOWAS-facilitated channels. ECOWAS reaffirmed its commitment to promoting peace, stability, and cooperation across the Mano River Basin for the benefit of citizens in the region.

The border situation has intensified following reports of a military incursion. Last month, Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina reported to the ECOWAS Parliament that Guinean armed forces crossed into Sierra Leonean territory at Kaliyereh Village, Falaba District, apprehending 13 military personnel.

ECOWAS has now widened the technical assessment to include not only the Yenga region in Kailahun District but also the Gbane-Kandor area in Kono District and the Lofa County border between Guinea and Liberia.

Local leaders in Kailahun have warned that residents are facing severe economic hardship due to the presence of foreign military personnel, with many farmers unable to access their ancestral lands. This disruption threatens the upcoming harvest and poses a potential risk to local food security.