The Government of Sierra Leone has officially confirmed a border incident in which personnel from the Guinean Armed Forces (GAF) crossed into Sierra Leonean territory and apprehended members of the country’s joint security team.

According to a press release from the Ministry of Information and Civic Education dated February 24, 2026, the incursion occurred on Monday, February 23, in the border town of Kalieyereh, located in the Sulima Chiefdom of the Falaba District.

At the time of the incident, members of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) and the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) were actively engaged in making bricks to construct a new border post and accommodation facility intended to bolster security operations in the region. The Ministry noted that the Sierra Leone national flag was hoisted in an area recognized as Sierra Leonean territory.

During the encounter, Guinean forces detained several Sierra Leonean security personnel, including an officer, and transported them across the border into Guinea. The GAF personnel also confiscated the team’s arms and ammunition.

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In response, the Sierra Leonean government announced the following actions:

Diplomatic Engagement: Authorities are actively using established diplomatic and security channels to locate the apprehended personnel and secure their “safe and unconditional release”.

Formal Communication: The incident has been reported to appropriate national, regional, and sub-regional bodies to ensure a peaceful resolution.

Fact-Finding Mission: A dedicated mission has been constituted and dispatched to the area to establish a clear sequence of events and gather more details.

The Ministry assured the public that it remains “fully seized of the situation” and will provide verified updates as they become available.