Yenga Chief Says Return Impossible Under Guinean Forces Presence

Yenga Town Chief Tamba Nyuma has raised concerns over the continued presence of Guinean soldiers in the disputed border town, saying residents cannot safely return while it remains under Guinean military control.

Speaking in an interview on Liberty Online TV, Chief Nyuma said recent discussions on the reopening of Yenga were held between Sierra Leonean and Guinean soldiers without the involvement of government officials or traditional authorities.

He alleged that representatives from key government institutions, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Lands, were absent from the meeting. According to him, paramount chiefs and other local authorities were also excluded from the process.

Chief Nyuma further claimed that Guinean troops continue to maintain a strong presence in Yenga, restricting movement and access for Sierra Leonean residents who previously lived in the area.

“We can’t return to Yenga under Guinean military presence,” he said, warning that returning residents would effectively be living under foreign military control if the situation remains unchanged.

He also alleged that access to surrounding bush areas has been restricted, adding that only Guinean soldiers currently operate freely in parts of the community.

Yenga, located along the Sierra Leone–Guinea border, remains a long-standing territorial dispute between the two countries, despite several diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the issue peacefully.

The claims by the Yenga Town Chief have not been independently verified. There has been no immediate official response from the Governments of Sierra Leone or Guinea regarding the alleged meeting or the current situation in the area.