By Saidu Jalloh, Reporter, Daily Scope
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Morie Lengor, has issued a stern warning regarding escalating tensions with Guinea over the contested Yenga border area. While asserting that Sierra Leone seeks a peaceful resolution, Lengor emphasized the nation’s readiness to defend its territory against what he described as aggressive actions from Guinea.
“We want to ensure that the matter is resolved amicably, peacefully, and diplomatically,” Lengor stated. “We’ve suffered the consequences of war, and nobody wants bloodshed.”
Diplomatic efforts surrounding the Yenga issue date back over a century. In 1912, Britain and France agreed that Yenga belonged to Sierra Leone, a position reaffirmed in subsequent agreements signed by former Presidents Ahmad Tejan Kabbah and Lansana Conté. In 2012, a meeting between then-President Ernest Bai Koroma and President Alpha Condé resulted in another confirmation that Yenga is part of Sierra Leone, requiring Guinean forces to vacate the area.
By 2020, Guinean troops had reportedly exited Yenga, but in the same year, President Alpha Condé began sending troops back into the region intermittently. Following the rise of Mamady Doumbouya in 2021, Guinea initiated the construction of permanent military structures in Yenga, a move that has raised alarms within Sierra Leone.
Lengor acknowledged that the Sierra Leonean government is aware of these developments and that reports were submitted regarding the construction of military barracks by Guinea. He noted that the absence of Sierra Leonean soldiers allowed Guinean forces to re-enter the area. “We in Sierra Leone are law-abiding people, and we’re honoring our part of the agreement,” he said, adding that local residents prefer a demilitarized environment.
Concerns have surged among residents in Yenga and surrounding communities about Guinea’s potential ambitions towards the Moa River, with fears that Guinea may aim to extend its reach to Daru and beyond. Despite the ongoing military buildup by Guinea, Sierra Leone remains committed to diplomacy.
Lengor warned, however, that Sierra Leone will not passively observe if the situation escalates. “I definitely don’t think we will sit down and watch them pass Koindu and come beyond. We’ll defend ourselves rigorously,” he asserted.
He expressed skepticism regarding the intentions of some Guinean forces, suggesting that the situation might be used to distract from internal issues within Guinea, including calls for a return to civilian rule. Lengor noted reports of Sierra Leoneans facing deportation and mistreatment in Guinea, further complicating relations.
In a call for unity, he urged all parties to treat the issue seriously, free from political manipulation. He reinforced Sierra Leone’s right to defend its sovereignty, reflecting on the historical ties between the two nations. “It’s just like the story of a camel: you let the camel into your tent to take shelter, and at the end of the day, the camel kicks you out,” he concluded.
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