Kailahun District, Sierra Leone – Residents of Kailahun are facing mounting economic hardship as the long-running Yenga border dispute with neighbouring Guinea continues to disrupt farming and trade.
Hon. Ing. Fallah Kenawah Tengbeh, a Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) Member of Parliament representing Kailahun, raised the alarm during a briefing with parliamentary reporters on 15 September 2025.
He described the economic situation in his constituency as “appalling,” warning that families are struggling to survive while access to farmland remains blocked.
“My constituents cannot access their farmlands because of land encroachment by the Guinean military,” Tengbeh said, noting that farming is the backbone of Kailahun’s local economy. “People are left in a doubtful state as the Yenga crisis drags on.”
The Yenga border area has been a source of tension between Sierra Leone and Guinea for years, with periodic flare-ups affecting cross-border movement and livelihoods.
Tengbeh acknowledged ongoing diplomatic efforts led by the government of President Julius Maada Bio and welcomed the involvement of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as a mediator.
According to the MP, a Sierra Leonean delegation has already engaged in dialogue, while Guinean authorities have requested additional time before further talks.
Tengbeh called on the Bio administration to accelerate negotiations to secure a “swift and lasting settlement,” allowing Kailahun residents to return to their farms without fear of intimidation.
“Our people need immediate relief and the chance to farm freely again,” he stressed.
