REGIONAL POLITICS
By Emma Black
A long-standing border dispute between Sierra Leone and Guinea over the village of Yenga in Sierra Leone’s Kailahun District has reached a dangerous new stage, with Guinean forces taking renewed aggressive actions and Sierra Leonean communities facing a growing humanitarian crisis.
Yenga, a small but strategically located village near the Makona River, has been under dispute since Sierra Leone’s civil war (1991–2002); in 2001, Guinea deployed troops to support Sierra Leonean forces against the Revolutionary United Front (RUF); however, Guinea never fully withdrew after the war, despite multiple diplomatic agreements acknowledging Yenga as Sierra Leonean territory.
Efforts to resolve the issue go back to 2005, when Presidents Ahmed Tejan Kabbah of Sierra Leone and Lansana Conté of Guinea agreed that Yenga belonged to Sierra Leone, this was reaffirmed in 2012 and 2013 under presidents Ernest Bai Koroma and Alpha Condé, Nevertheless, Guinean patrols, construction, and military presence persisted, violating Sierra Leone’s sovereignty.
Guinean forces reportedly took full control of Yenga and key border crossings on April 29, 2025, displacing residents, restricting civilian movement, and heightening tensions, according to local reports, residents fled the area, and many are now seeking shelter in nearby towns like Koindu and Kailahun.
Following the incursion, the Sierra Leone armed forces (RSLAF) deployed additional troops and equipment to Sukuba village, near Yenga, where they successfully repelled an attempted eviction by Guinean soldiers on May 2, 2025, after their retreat, Guinean forces reportedly fired shots into the air and issued threats, creating panic among civilians.
A fact-finding mission conducted by the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) on May 15–16, 2025, documented widespread displacements, loss of livelihoods, limited access to education and healthcare, and alarming reports of sexual abuse; children are unable to attend school, hygiene conditions are deteriorating, and fear dominates daily life.
On May 14, 2025, the ministry of gender raised concerns about sexual violence against displaced women, as first reported by Sierra Loaded. Local leaders, including Town Chief Tamba Nyuma and Chairlady Musu James, reported that Guinean soldiers have constructed buildings, mounted Guinean flags, and are acting as de facto authorities in Yenga.
Speaking to Expo Magazine, Mohamed Kallon, a trader from Kailahun, noted that most Sierra Leoneans had fled Yenga, stating, all our people are now in Kailahun, 300 kilometres away, Kallon confirmed that Guinean forces have erected permanent structures on Sierra Leonean soil, he called on the government to clarify whether the land has been sold or leased to Guinea.
Journalists attempting to report from Yenga have faced obstruction, some were reportedly told by Sierra Leonean soldiers not to proceed further, many women and children remain in hiding, only emerging briefly to gather food before returning to safety.
Prominent figures, including Dr. Sylvia Olayinka Blyden, have spoken out on social media. She detailed how military officers blocked some Bike riders not to go with her in 2024, to the Makona River, reinforcing fears about restricted access and transparency.
President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has personally donated relief supplies to affected communities, over 2,400 bags of rice are being distributed to internally displaced persons in Yenga and surrounding areas, according to foreign minister Alhaji Timothy Kabba, this humanitarian aid, Kabba confirmed, was funded entirely by the President’s personal resources.
While diplomatic efforts continue, they have largely stalled. Sierra Leone has alerted ECOWAS and other international bodies about the breach of its sovereignty, foreign minister Kabba, speaking from New York on May 1, 2025, urged calm and confirmed that dialogue was ongoing with the chief of defence staff and other stakeholders, however, the ministry of foreign affairs website is currently inaccessible, limiting public access to official updates.
Analysts, including regional expert Sinnah Kamara, are urging Sierra Leone to file a formal complaint with the international court of justice (ICJ), the ICJ could be the only permanent solution to end this pattern of aggression, she said.
Sierra Leone is now calling on ECOWAS, the African Union (AU), and the United Nations to intervene and uphold the principles of sovereignty, non-aggression, and territorial integrity, the Mano River Union, long a mediator in regional conflicts, is also being asked to take a more active role.
The Yenga conflict is not just a local issue; it is a test of regional diplomacy, international law, and Africa’s commitment to peace and unity, as the people of Yenga wait for answers, the international community must act to ensure peace, security, and justice prevail.
Copyright –Published in Expo Magazine, May-June 2025 Edition Vol.3, No.4, (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
