By Hassan Osman Kargbo
Hon. Abdul Kargbo, Leader of the Opposition in the Sierra Leone Parliament and a representative in the ECOWAS Parliament, has confirmed that the ongoing territorial dispute between Sierra Leone and Guinea over the Yenger area is receiving top priority from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Speaking in a recent interview on Radio Democracy’s flagship program Good Morning Salone, Hon. Kargbo emphasized that ECOWAS is well aware of the situation and is taking concrete steps to address the matter. He reassured the public that Sierra Leone is expected to receive favorable news from ECOWAS regarding the dispute in the near future.
“The ECOWAS Parliament is giving this issue the utmost seriousness,” Hon. Kargbo stated during the interview. “We understand the importance of Yenger to our country, and I can assure Sierra Leoneans that ECOWAS will act accordingly.”
The Yenger area, located along the Sierra Leone–Guinea border in the eastern part of the country, has been a point of contention for years. According to Hon. Kargbo, the territory unquestionably belongs to Sierra Leone, but Guinean forces entered the area in 2001 during the country’s civil war under the pretext of assisting in the fight against rebel forces. He added that the Guinean military has refused to withdraw from Yenger since then, leading to heightened tensions between the two countries.
“It is not a secret that Yenger is part of Sierra Leone,” Hon. Kargbo said. “The Guineans came to help us fight the rebels back in 2001, and since then, they have not left. But now, ECOWAS is involved and will ensure justice is done.”
Kargbo also highlighted that Guinea, as a member of ECOWAS, is bound by the organization’s decisions and protocols. He expressed confidence that Guinea would not defy ECOWAS directives once a resolution is reached through diplomatic engagement.
In recent weeks, reports had emerged that some residents of Yenger had fled the area due to fears of escalation. However, Hon. Kargbo assured the public that many of those displaced have since returned home. He said this information was confirmed to him by the Chairman of the Defense Committee in Parliament, who has been monitoring the situation closely.
“The people are returning,” he said. “I’ve been informed by credible sources, including the chairman of the Defense Committee, that there is a growing sense of safety now. This is a positive sign.”
Hon. Kargbo’s remarks come amid increasing public interest in the long-standing border dispute, which has resurfaced in recent months following diplomatic tensions and community concerns in the eastern districts.
Observers hope that ECOWAS’s involvement will pave the way for a peaceful and lasting resolution to the Yenger issue, which has remained unresolved for over two decades.
The Sierra Leonean government has yet to issue an official statement in response to Hon. Kargbo’s remarks, but the public remains hopeful that regional diplomacy will deliver a fair outcome.
