By Sallieu S. Kanu
Freetown, August 26, 2025 — A high-level delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has briefed Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) on its recent fact-finding mission to Yenga, reaffirming regional efforts to peacefully resolve the long-standing border dispute between Sierra Leone and Guinea.
Led by Dr. Odigie Brown, Program Officer for Mediation at the ECOWAS Commission, the delegation included Resident Representative Mr. John Azumah and senior officials from ECOWAS and the Mano River Union. The visit follows renewed tensions in Yenga, a strategic village in Kailahun District, which has remained a flashpoint of territorial contention for over two decades.
Planning Minister Kenyeh Barlay welcomed the delegation, reiterating President Julius Maada Bio’s unwavering commitment to regional cooperation, democracy, and peace. She emphasized that while the Mano River Union had previously engaged on the issue, Yenga still demands a lasting and enforceable resolution. Development Secretary Ambrose James echoed this sentiment, pledging MoPED’s full support for the mediation process and commending President Bio’s leadership in advancing ECOWAS policies that promote peace and resilience across member states.
The briefing convened senior representatives from MoPED, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Lands, the Office of National Security (ONS), and other security agencies. Discussions explored historical, geographical, and economic dimensions of the dispute, with all parties underscoring the importance of impartiality, inclusivity, and sustained diplomatic dialogue.
The Yenga border dispute dates back to Sierra Leone’s civil war in the early 2000s, when Guinean troops entered the village to assist Sierra Leonean forces against rebel insurgents. Although their presence was initially welcomed, Guinea maintained a military foothold in Yenga after the war ended in 2002, citing security and economic concerns.
Despite multiple bilateral agreements affirming Sierra Leone’s sovereignty over Yenga—including accords in 2002, 2012, and 2019—Guinean forces have periodically reoccupied the area, most recently in April 2025, when troops seized control of mining camps and border posts. The village’s rich alluvial deposits and strategic location near the Moa/Makona River have made it a lucrative site for artisanal mining and cross-border trade, intensifying competition over its control.
The dispute has led to displacement of local Kissi communities, disrupted economic activity, and strained diplomatic relations. ECOWAS has convened emergency talks and urged both nations to recommit to peaceful negotiations, warning that unresolved tensions could escalate into broader regional instability.