The regional bloc, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has dispatched a technical assessment mission to the Mano River Basin amid rising tensions along borders involving Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.
In a statement issued from Abuja on 12 March 2026, the ECOWAS Commission said the mission will closely examine developments along the Sierra Leone–Guinea frontier, particularly the long-disputed border town of Yenga.
According to the Commission, the assessment is aimed at evaluating recent tensions and identifying potential risks to peace and stability in the Mano River Basin, a region that links Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia through shared borders and economic ties.
ECOWAS noted that developments along the Lofa border between Guinea and Liberia have also complicated the regional situation, prompting the Commission to widen the scope of its technical mission to include additional diplomatic consultations across the basin.
The regional body said the deployment forms part of its preventive diplomacy strategy to address emerging disputes before they escalate into broader security challenges within West Africa.
The Commission has called on all countries involved to exercise restraint and avoid actions that could inflame tensions while the mission carries out its work.
ECOWAS also urged the governments of Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia to respect internationally recognised borders and refrain from unilateral steps that could undermine bilateral relations and regional stability.
The bloc encouraged the continued use of ECOWAS-facilitated diplomatic channels to resolve the issues peacefully and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting cooperation and long-term stability in the Mano River Basin.
