FREETOWN, August 30, 2025 – Sierra Leone’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Morie Lengor, on Friday joined a fact-finding mission from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to Yenga, the disputed border community in Kailahun District that remains under Guinean occupation.
The delegation, however, was denied access to Yenga village by Guinean forces, who argued they had not been notified of ECOWAS’ visit.
The team later concluded its mission in Pegobegu, a settlement firmly under Sierra Leone’s control. Residents of Yenga had abandoned the area months ago amid growing insecurity.
Yenga, a small fishing and farming town on the Makona River, became a flashpoint during Sierra Leone’s civil war in the 1990s when Guinean troops crossed the border to help fight rebel forces. Although both governments later acknowledged Yenga as Sierra Leonean territory, Guinean soldiers never withdrew fully, creating a lingering diplomatic standoff.
Efforts to resolve the issue have spanned over two decades, with bilateral meetings and agreements in 2005 and 2012 reaffirming Sierra Leone’s sovereignty. Yet the situation remains unresolved, fueling periodic tensions between the two neighbors.
ECOWAS officials say their latest mission is part of renewed regional efforts to address the impasse peacefully. Analysts warn that failure to find a lasting solution could undermine stability in the Mano River Basin, where cross-border cooperation is vital to security and trade.
