Current reports from Sierra Leone’s eastern region indicate that since April 29, 2025, Guinean troops have taken control of several strategic border crossing points around the Yenga township area in the Kissi Teng Chiefdom, Kailahun District. This occupation has restricted the movement of local residents, effectively sealing off cross-border access into Guinea.
According to sources in the region, Guinea appears to be leveraging Yenga as a geopolitical pressure point in expressing dissatisfaction with Sierra Leone, prompting renewed diplomatic and security concerns.
Both the governments of Sierra Leone and Guinea are said to be actively engaged in diplomatic dialogue to de-escalate the situation. However, the military presence has reignited fears of conflict in a region that has long been a flashpoint in bilateral tensions between the two countries.
Recent mapping and international boundary assessments have reaffirmed that Yenga lies within Sierra Leonean territory. Despite this, Guinean forces continue to assert control, further straining diplomatic ties and stoking public anxiety.
Heavily armed Guinean soldiers have reportedly occupied multiple crossing points, including the long-contested Yenga area, catching local residents by surprise. Key entry and exit routes—such as the Sierra Leone Immigration Base in PenguBengu, as well as crossing points in Sokoma, Kpongoma, Payluan, Kpemalu, and Kpengbakordu—have been closed, severely restricting civilian movement and trade.
The current standoff marks a renewed chapter in a long-standing border dispute that dates back to the aftermath of Sierra Leone’s civil war in 2002. During that period, Guinean troops, operating under a regional intervention mandate, used Yenga as a forward operating base. Though a demilitarization agreement was reached in 2012, Guinean presence in the area has persisted sporadically.
In response to the recent developments, Sierra Leonean forces have reportedly reinforced their presence in Yenga following alleged “sporadic gunshots” from Guinean troops. These military activities have heightened concerns about a possible armed confrontation in the border region.
While in New York on official duties, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Alhaji Timothy Kabba, urged residents of Kissi Teng to remain calm. In a public statement, he confirmed ongoing coordination with the Chief of Defence Staff and other relevant national security authorities to address the unfolding situation. He assured the public that updates will be provided as efforts to restore normalcy progress.
Yenga, a village in the Kissi Teng Chiefdom, sits at the southeastern tip of Sierra Leone along the border with Guinea. It is located on a hill near the confluence of the Mafissia and Makona (Moa) Rivers, which serve as natural boundaries between the two nations. The area is predominantly inhabited by the Kissi ethnic group.
Despite prior agreements between Sierra Leone and Guinea to demilitarize the area, the recent military build-up underscores the fragile nature of regional peace and the need for sustained diplomatic engagement.
