The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has voiced concern over escalating tensions along the borders of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, urging all parties to exercise restraint and resolve disputes through dialogue.
In a statement on Friday, the regional bloc said it is closely monitoring developments and will deploy a technical assessment mission to the disputed Yenga area, historically sensitive due to longstanding territorial disagreements between Guinea and Sierra Leone.
ECOWAS noted that recent tensions along the Lofa County border between Guinea and Liberia have further complicated the situation. In response, the bloc has expanded the mission’s scope to assess potential friction points throughout the Mano River Basin, a region known for both cross-border cooperation and historical disputes.
“The ECOWAS Commission is deploying a technical assessment mission to evaluate the situation between Guinea and Sierra Leone in the Yenga border area,” the statement read. It added that the Commission has initiated diplomatic engagements with the affected countries to gather information and ease tensions.
The bloc called on all governments involved to respect internationally recognized boundaries, avoid unilateral actions, and prioritize dialogue through ECOWAS-facilitated channels. ECOWAS reaffirmed its commitment to promoting cooperation, peace, and stability across the Mano River Basin for the benefit of citizens in the region.
