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The Yenga border dispute between Sierra Leone and Guinea remains a lingering source of tension in West Africa.
Yenga is located in Kailahun District, Eastern Province of Sierra Leone, bordering Guinea’s Forest Region. During the civil war, Guinea deployed troops to aid Sierra Leone against rebel forces and took control of Yenga. After the war, Guinean forces did not withdraw fully, citing security and economic concerns, particularly given the area’s proximity to the Moa/Makona River and lucrative cross-border trade and fishing.
Despite the conflict ending in 2002, Guinea has maintained a presence in the area, leading to unresolved territorial claims and diplomatic friction.
I am attempting to outline possible solutions and offer recommendations to both nations and ECOWAS. I’m also trying to highlight the potential threats if the issue remains unsettled. This is my third article on Yenga, first as an Investigative Journalist reporting for an international news outlet in 2011 and the second was to urge Sierra Leone’s newly elected President (then in 2018) His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio. Note that views expressed are exclusively mine.
Indeed, several bilateral talks have taken place, with occasional promises of troop withdrawals and demarcation efforts, but no comprehensive, lasting solution has been implemented.
As a Development and Judicial Communications expert, let me propose the following:
- Bilateral Border Commission Revival
Establish a permanent Sierra Leone–Guinea Border Commission, with legal and technical experts from both sides, to oversee demarcation, conflict resolution, and joint development initiatives in disputed areas.
- Independent Geographical Survey
Commission a neutral third-party, preferably under the African Union or ECOWAS, to conduct a thorough historical and geographical survey of the border, using colonial maps, treaties, and international law as references.
- Joint Economic Zone
Create a cross-border economic cooperation zone in Yenga, enabling shared control and mutual benefit from the area’s resources, especially fishing and trade, under joint administration.
- Community-led Dialogue
Involve local leaders, traditional authorities, and civil society from both countries to build trust and promote peaceful coexistence through grassroots diplomacy.
I have visited Yenga twice and therefore let me recommend to the Governments of Sierra Leone and Guinea:
Recommit to diplomatic engagement and renounce any military presence or action in the disputed area.
Invest in infrastructure and services in the border regions to reduce tension and improve livelihoods.
Collaborate on security to prevent transnational crime without territorial infringement.
To ECOWAS:
- Mediate and facilitate high-level talks between both nations, ensuring neutrality and consistency in the peace process.
- Provide technical and logistical support for border demarcation.
- Enforce compliance through diplomatic channels and, if necessary, sanctions or regional court rulings.
- Encourage donor agencies to support joint development projects as confidence-building measures.
If the Yenga issue is not settled amicably, it could:
Erupt into armed conflict, destabilizing a region already vulnerable to insurgencies and extremism.
Undermine regional integration efforts and economic cooperation under ECOWAS frameworks.
Exacerbate nationalistic sentiments, damaging long-standing diplomatic relations and people-to-people ties.
Provide a breeding ground for illicit activities such as smuggling, arms trafficking, and illegal mining.
In conclusion, the Yenga border dispute stands as a test of diplomacy, regional cooperation, and the commitment to peace in West Africa. Sierra Leone and Guinea must seize the opportunity to resolve the issue definitively, with ECOWAS playing a proactive and impartial role. Peaceful resolution will not only benefit both nations but also serve as a model for resolving border disputes across the continent.
I can hold the Sierra Leone government liable for the occupation of Yenga by the Guinean troops because it was the same thing the government of Sierra Leone did in 1990; they sat back until the rebels entered through the Liberian borders and killed the kissi people claiming that the rebels are not yet in Freetown. It is not today the government of Sierra Leone has neglected the people in that area. Before the civil war, I understood we had only 30 militaries patrolling the borders of that area which was one of the factors that led to easy and nonresistance entry of the rebels through those areas.
This occupation of the Guinean troops in Yenga is not something that happened of recent. Since the year 2003 these people were on that land and the urgency on the part of the goverment of Sierra Leone hasn’t been realized, this is why the Guinean troops have now built structures and even raised their flags claiming that Yenga is for them. For we that are from those areas we are asking that the goverment either tell us which part is Yenga or they should tell us if we can stand for ourskves, defend ourselves and stand for our rights . This is shameful on the goverment of Sierra Leone and without compromise, I blame the authorities of Sierra Leone for not urgently coming to the protection of the people of Yenga.