Reliable source reaching FORUM NEWS-SL have it that stakeholders of Yenga remain largely unhappy with the governing SLPP administration, President Julius Maada Bio for Freetown authorities’ failures to redeem the border town from Guinean troops occupation.
In view of that long-standing controversial border issue, a group of Kailahun district elders, who described themselves as Yenga stakeholders have therefore revealed plans to take a high-powered delegation to President Bio and register their dissatisfactions to him and the Government of Sierra Leone for abandoning them vulnerably at the mercy of Guinean soldiers.
Yeanga stakeholders’ proposed visit and meet with government is aimed at soliciting first hand situational update from President Bio and his government on what seems to be an ongoing age-old negotiation between the Government of Sierra Leone and that of the Republic of Guinea, relating to the return of the disputed border town to anglophone country.
A senior member of the Paramount Chief ruling house told the FORUM NEWS-SL that as stakeholders they remain extremely worried about the status of Yenga in the hands of foreign occupation. He disclosed that the Guineans military forces who still occupy Yanga, are engaged in mining, agricultural and other lucrative commercial activities in the town.
“Our people are perishing because of the constant restrictions they continue to face in the hands of Guineans troops at Yenga; a situation FORUM NEWS-SL was reliably informed is becoming unbearable for Sierra Leoneans in that part of the country,” …
Reports revealed that Mano River Union investors who had visited Yenga, tried to purchase businesses to do an invest there that will transform Yenga to what it used to be.
However, the deployment of Guineans troops at the disputed town has reversed multiple investments and developmental opportunities that were aimed improving economic livelihood and living standards of the people of Yenga, another senior community resident told FORUM NEWS-SL.
Meanwhile, moves by the government to revamp the Koidu International Market seem to be highly welcomed by Yenga, Kailahun and eastern region residents and Sierra Leoneans at large, as a step in the right direction. Yet the deployment of Guineans soldiers at the disputed border town continue to pose huge setbacks to the re-establishment and operations of the market, owing to the facts that traders from other countries of the region will prefer using Yenga to access the Koidu International Market because of its proximity.
Reports furthered that indigenes of the disputed border town appreciated President Bio for appointing a daughter of Yenga, Salima Monorma Bah to serve in the Ministry of Technology and Innovation, for which FORUM NEWS-SL’s sources noted they intend rallying around the minister’s office to finally end the longing standing dispute.
If the government failed to give us stakeholders any pleasing update, we will have no option but to do the needful that will ensure that Guineans troops withdraw or vacate Yanga.
Yenga is a village in Kissi Teng Chiefdom, Kailahun District in the Eastern province of Sierra Leone. The village is at the international border between Sierra Leone and Guinea.
