A high-level delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was unable to enter Yenga on Friday, 29 August 2025, due to resistance from Guinean forces occupying the area, highlighting ongoing tensions over the disputed border between Sierra Leone and Guinea.

The delegation, led by senior Gambian diplomat and United Nations official Her Excellency Amb. Kinza Jawara-Njai, included Sierra Leone’s Minister of Internal Affairs and other senior government officials.

Upon arrival in Koindu Town, the team was officially received by Paramount Chief Emmanuel Nyuma Ganawa, local section chiefs, and other community stakeholders.

Hon. Ing. Fallah Kenawah Tengbeh, Member of Parliament for Constituency 002 in Kissi Teng Chiefdom, confirmed that the delegation was prevented from entering Yenga. He disclosed that the head of the ECOWAS mission informed him that the Guinean authorities did not acknowledge receipt of the official ECOWAS letter requesting the visit, and that the military personnel stationed in Yenga denied knowledge of the mission, effectively blocking access.

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The delegation was able to conduct inspections up to Sokoma Village, approximately 300 meters from the disputed territory.

During the visit, ECOWAS officials documented the Guinean garrison base, a newly erected beacon within Sierra Leonean borders, and seized farmlands and surrounding swamps. Photographs were taken, including views of Nongoa, Guinea, visible across the Makona (Moa) River.

Tengbeh also highlighted the humanitarian impact of the occupation, noting that residents of Yenga and nearby villages remain displaced and are currently accommodated in Koindu without access to their farms.

Despite being denied full access, the ECOWAS delegation conducted interviews with key local stakeholders, including youth leaders, market representatives, and displaced residents, gathering first-hand information on the situation on the ground.

The MP and local leaders urged the Sierra Leonean government to escalate the Yenga dispute to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for arbitration, emphasizing the need for a definitive resolution to the longstanding border issue.