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The Coalition of Civil Society and Human Rights Activists Sierra Leone (CCSHRA-SL) has strongly condemned what it described as the “illegal arrest, detention, molestation and maltreatment” of some members of Sierra Leone’s security forces by Guinean military officers in Falaba District.
In a press release dated February 24, 2026, and signed by its Chairman, Charles Mambu, the coalition expressed “total concerns and dismay” over the incident, which it said involved Sierra Leone Military and Police officers deployed in the border district.
The coalition described the action by Guinean soldiers as “yet another unwarranted provocation” and accused the Government of Guinea Conakry and its security forces of continuing what it called “disrespectful behaviors” toward the Government and citizens of Sierra Leone.
According to the statement, the coalition believes there is a “master plan” by the Government of Guinea Conakry and its security forces to forcefully take over border areas within Sierra Leone, adding that such intentions are “manifested daily by their actions.”
The group referenced longstanding tensions over the Yenga border area, stating that since 2019, when Guinea authorized its armed forces to retake Yenga Village and its territories and built what it described as an equipped military barracks on Sierra Leonean soil, more territories are allegedly earmarked for occupation by the same forces.
The coalition further claimed that the Government of Guinea Conakry and its security forces have refused to accept peaceful negotiations facilitated by regional and international bodies, including the Mano River Union (MRU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU), and the United Nations. It stated that diplomatic efforts to resolve the border dispute have been frustrated by Guinea.
Based on these concerns, CCSHRA-SL called on the Government of Sierra Leone to ensure the “quick and unconditional release” of all Sierra Leone Military and Police officers allegedly being held by Guinean military forces.
The coalition also urged the Government of Sierra Leone to formally report the Yenga and other border disputes to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for final arbitration, citing what it described as the failure of diplomatic efforts to resolve the matter.
In addition, the group called for a scaling down of diplomatic engagements with the Government of Guinea Conakry, including the possible recall of Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Guinea.
It further stated that the “unwarranted provocation and attack” by the Guinean military had reached “the point of no return,” and urged the Government of Sierra Leone to “fully utilize all available military and peaceful strength” to protect its citizens against what it termed continuous aggression.
Despite its strong language, the coalition appealed to citizens of Sierra Leone to remain peaceful and to regard the ordinary people of Guinea Conakry as “brothers and sisters that had co-existed for centuries as one people.”
The statement also commended the Sierra Leone security officers involved, saying they demonstrated bravery by obeying the command of their Commander-in-Chief and allowing themselves to be arrested without a fight, describing their actions as “a show of strength not weakness.”
The press release concluded with a call for peace, stating: “Let us pursue peace not conflict, we are all one people,” while also urging an end to what it called provocations by the Guinean government and its security forces against peaceful citizens of Sierra Leone.
