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Prominent Sierra Leonean Lawyer Basita Michael has reacted to the government’s official communication on the recent border incident in Falaba, where Guinean troops reportedly crossed into Sierra Leonean territory and captured Sierra Leonean soldiers and Operational Support Division (OSD) officers, urging greater maturity and unity in national discourse.
In a public statement addressing the situation, Michael described the government’s update as measured and appropriate in tone, particularly given the sensitivity of cross-border tensions.
“The Government’s update on the border incident is calm, measured, and diplomatic, the kind of language that helps prevent escalation when tensions are high. That level of restraint is appropriate and responsible,” she stated.
Her remarks follow reports that Guinean troops entered Falaba District and detained Sierra Leonean security personnel, raising concerns over border security and diplomatic relations between the two neighbouring countries. The government has since issued a formal update, indicating engagement through diplomatic channels.
While acknowledging the appropriateness of the government’s restrained tone in handling the matter internationally, Michael said the response reflects a broader issue within the country’s domestic political culture.
“But it also highlights something deeper about us,” she said. “When dealing with other nations, we instinctively choose caution and maturity. Yet in our own domestic politics, we often speak to one another with a level of hostility we would never use in international affairs. We find restraint for others, but not always for ourselves.”
According to Michael, the discipline demonstrated in international communication should be mirrored in local political engagement. She argued that a shift in tone at home could significantly improve national cohesion.
“If we brought the same discipline, the same sense of responsibility, into our political conversations at home, our national life would look very different,” she said. “We would disagree without demeaning, debate without threatening, and protect our dignity without tearing one another down.”
Michael further stressed that the reported detention of Sierra Leonean soldiers and OSD officers makes national unity even more critical at this time.
“And in moments like this, when our personnel have been taken across the border, that maturity becomes even more important. The safe, swift, and unconditional return of our soldiers should be a unifying priority. It deserves a national tone that reflects seriousness, not division,” she stated.
Her comments place attention not only on the diplomatic handling of the Falaba incident but also on the tone of political engagement within Sierra Leone, calling for restraint and responsibility as the country navigates the situation.
