By Joseph Momoh, Reporter, Daily Scope
Kailahun District, May 3, 2025 – A high-powered delegation of government officials and regional stakeholders visited Koindu Town in Kissi Teng Chiefdom on Saturday to address the long-standing border dispute concerning Yenga, a territory claimed by both Sierra Leone and Guinea.
The visit follows rising tensions between the youth of Koindu and the Guinean Armed Forces, prompted by the displacement of Sierra Leonean citizens from Yenga. The delegation included the Minister and Deputy Ministers of Internal Affairs and Defense, senior officials from the Office of National Security (ONS), representatives from the Sierra Leone Armed Forces and Police, the Mano River Union Peace and Security Directorate, the Government of Liberia, and the Paramount Chiefs of Nongoa and Kissi Teng Chiefdoms.
In his welcoming statement, Paramount Chief Ganawa of Kissi Teng expressed gratitude for the visit, viewing it as a significant step toward resolving the Yenga crisis. He thanked the Paramount Chief of Nongoa and the government officials for their commitment, urging a peaceful resolution. “With the presence of these high-level authorities, I believe that the problem of Yenga will finally come to an end by the grace of God,” he stated.
Minister of State, Hon. Gbessay Jusu Jaka Ngobeh, appealed to the aggrieved youth of Kissi Teng to remain calm and refrain from taking the law into their own hands. He highlighted the Government of Sierra Leone’s commitment to resolving the Yenga situation through diplomatic means. “This is a deeply rooted issue inherited by President Bio. It began under the late President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah and remained unresolved during the tenure of former President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma. However, I assure you that President Bio is committed to ending this crisis and restoring peace, unity, and tranquillity to this region,” he said.
Hon. Ngobeh emphasized that the presence of the Sierra Leone Armed Forces in Yenga demonstrates the President’s commitment to protecting national sovereignty.
Youth representative Mr. John Tamba Focko called for clarity on the territorial ownership of Yenga, asking, “Within a reasonable time, we, the people of this Kissidom, want to know definitively, does Yenga belong to Guinea or Sierra Leone?”
Paramount Chief Tamba G. Bongono of Nongoa recounted his intervention to halt construction by Guinean forces in the disputed area, emphasizing cultural ties between the two nations. He urged for a peaceful resolution, stating, “Let the armed forces from both countries withdraw from Yenga so civilians can return to peaceful coexistence.” He also proposed reviving annual meetings under the Mano River Union framework to promote regional unity and dialogue.
Madam Ange Konan Mono, Deputy Secretary-General of the Mano River Union for Peace and Security, echoed these sentiments, stressing that lasting peace is essential for development. “This longstanding issue must become a thing of the past to ensure lasting peace in Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, and Côte d’Ivoire,” she asserted.
Hon. B. Njamilah S. Bornguoi, representing the Government of Liberia, expressed support for a peaceful resolution, reaffirming Liberia’s solidarity with the people of Sierra Leone.
In his concluding remarks, the delegation head and Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. Morie Lengor, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to a diplomatic solution to the Yenga dispute. Drawing parallels to the peaceful resolution of the Bakassi Peninsula conflict between Nigeria and Cameroon, he stressed that Sierra Leone would pursue a similar path. “We do not want to return to the dark days of conflict in our country. Those displaced should return to their communities, and their safety is assured by the presence of the Sierra Leone Armed Forces,” he stated.
He urged youth to exercise restraint and report any suspicious activities to security institutions, assuring them of ongoing government engagement on the matter.
The visit concluded with the presentation of transportation fare and mosquito bed nets to displaced citizens, symbolizing the government’s support and concern for their well-being.
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