Freetown, Sierra Leone – February 26, 2026 – A team of Sierra Leonean security delegates visited the incident site along the Sierra Leone-Guinea border today.
They met with local elders and chiefs to assess the situation and reduce tensions.
Community leaders voiced worries about rising strains and called for calm as talks continue. Sierra Leonean officials tried to speak with Guinean troops, but the soldiers said they had no orders from higher-ups to discuss.
This follows Guinea’s arrest of 16 Sierra Leonean soldiers earlier this week, fueling a long-standing border dispute. Locals, who rely on cross-border trade for income, fear disruptions and demand quick diplomatic fixes.
The clash started on February 22 when Guinean forces detained the group near Kalieyereh in Sierra Leone’s Falaba district, claimed by Guinea as Koudaya in Faranah Prefecture. Guinea says the soldiers entered 1.4 km into their land, set up a tent, and raised a flag. Sierra Leone insists they were building a post inside their borders.
The dispute dates back decades, rooted in colonial borders, and worsened last year with Guinean incursions into mineral areas. Trade in crops, minerals, and goods supports many families here.
Presidential hopeful Dr. Ibrahim Bangura stressed peaceful solutions, noting shared economic ties. Both sides trade blame: Sierra Leone calls it a sovereignty breach, Guinea defends its territory.
ECOWAS may step in to mediate. Officials in Freetown promise to free the detainees and stabilize the area soon.
