West Africa Turmoil: Regional Bloc Calls for Calm Along Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone Borders

The Economic Community of West African States has voiced its concern over the escalating tensions along the borders of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, calling on the involved nations to exercise restraint and engage in peaceful dialogue to resolve their differences.

In a statement released on Friday, the regional bloc announced that it is closely monitoring the situation and has decided to send a technical assessment mission to evaluate the developments in the disputed Yenga border area.

The Commission's decision to deploy the mission comes amidst growing concerns over the rising tensions between Guinea and Sierra Leone in the Yenga region, which has historically been a sensitive area due to longstanding territorial disputes.

Recent developments along the Lofa County border between Guinea and Liberia have added complexity to the situation, prompting ECOWAS to expand the scope of its assessment mission to include a comprehensive evaluation of potential areas of friction within the Mano River Basin.

The Mano River Basin is a region known for its history of cross-border tensions and cooperation among the three neighbouring countries, and the expanded mission will enable ECOWAS to conduct a thorough assessment of current and potential areas of conflict.

The ECOWAS Commission stated that it is deploying a technical assessment mission to evaluate the situation between Guinea and Sierra Leone in the Yenga border area, and has also initiated diplomatic engagements with the affected countries to gather more information and help ease tensions.

ECOWAS has urged the involved countries to exercise maximum restraint and take immediate steps to de-escalate the situation, and has called on the governments to respect internationally recognised boundaries and avoid unilateral actions that could undermine bilateral relations.

The Commission has also emphasised the importance of prioritising dialogue through ECOWAS-facilitated diplomatic channels, and has reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the authorities of the affected countries to promote cooperation and ensure lasting peace and stability in the Mano River Basin.

According to the Commission, ECOWAS remains committed to fostering mutual respect, dialogue, and peaceful coexistence among its member states, with the ultimate goal of benefiting citizens across West Africa.