Freetown – Deputy Minister of Information and Civic Education, Bocakarie Abdel-Aziz Bawoh, has assured that Sierra Leone remains firmly committed to a peaceful settlement of the long-running Yenga border dispute with neighboring Guinea.
Speaking at the weekly government press briefing held at Youyi Building in Freetown, Bawoh stressed that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable paths forward.
“Any use of force would only escalate tensions,” he cautioned. His remarks followed the recent visit of a high-level ECOWAS delegation to Freetown on August 26, led by Dr. Odigie Brown.
The regional body conducted an independent assessment of the contested territory, engaging stakeholders on both sides.
The Yenga dispute dates back to the early 2000s, during Sierra Leone’s civil war, when Guinean troops were deployed to assist in fighting rebel forces. After the war ended in 2002, Guinean forces remained stationed in Yenga, a strategic fishing and farming town in Kailahun District, leading to tensions over sovereignty. Despite several bilateral talks and agreements, including commitments at the presidential level, the matter remains unresolved, though both countries have pledged to prevent violence.
Bawoh’s assurance signals Sierra Leone’s determination to work through regional mediation efforts and maintain stability along its eastern border.
