Fears Rise After Guinea Soldier Fires Shot in Disputed Yenga Territory

Fears Rise After Guinea Soldier Fires Shot in Disputed Yenga TerritoryA single gunshot fired by a Guinean soldier in the disputed border town of Yenga has ignited fresh tensions, just days after a regional fact-finding mission was barred from entering the territory. 

The Guinean military has dismissed the incident as an "accidental discharge," but the event has fueled long-standing concerns over professionalism and adherence to protocol in an area that has been a flashpoint between Guinea and Sierra Leone for decades.

The incident occurred shortly after an ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) fact-finding mission was blocked by Guinea’s military from entering Yenga on Friday, August 29, 2025. 

Hon. Fala Tengbeh, a parliamentarian from Kailahun, confirmed the gunshot, underscoring the delicate security situation in the contested territory.

Yenga, a small but strategically important area, has been the subject of a prolonged border dispute between the two West African nations, with both countries laying claim to its sovereignty. 

This latest development underscores the fragile peace in the region and the urgent need for a lasting resolution to the decades-old conflict.