Yenga Chief Says Residents Cannot Return as Border Reopening Lacks Government Backing

Town Chief Tamba Nyuma of Yenga Village has questioned the legitimacy of the reported reopening of the Yenga border, claiming that the process was carried out without the participation of Sierra Leonean government officials or traditional authorities, and insisting that residents cannot safely return while the area remains under Guinean control.

Speaking on the matter, Chief Nyuma alleged that the discussions leading to the reopening of the border were conducted solely by Sierra Leonean and Guinean security personnel, with no ministers, members of parliament or paramount chiefs present.

According to him, the absence of key government representatives indicates that the exercise did not have the full backing of the Government of Sierra Leone.

He claimed that neither the local Member of Parliament, Honourable Tengbeh, nor the Paramount Chief, Emmanuel Nyuma Ganawa, attended the meeting, adding that no government minister was present during the reported reopening ceremony.

Chief Nyuma maintained that decisions on the future of Yenga should involve the country’s political leadership and local traditional authorities rather than being left exclusively to security officials.

He further argued that, despite the reported reopening of the border, conditions on the ground do not permit residents to return, claiming that Guinean security forces continue to maintain a strong presence in the area.

“There is no way the Guinean soldiers would allow us to be ruled by the Sierra Leone Government if we return there,” he said.

The town chief also expressed fears that returning under the current circumstances could expose residents to the same tensions they experienced in the past. He alleged that villagers had previously been threatened and prevented from accessing their farms and bush areas.

According to Chief Nyuma, Guinean military posts remain visible throughout Yenga, a situation he believes undermines the safety and confidence of displaced residents seeking to return.

“As I speak, if you go to Yenga, you will see the booths of the Guinean Army all over the bushes. There is no way we can go back to Yenga,” he claimed.

Chief Nyuma’s remarks highlight continuing concerns among some residents over the handling of the Yenga issue, particularly the absence of senior government officials from the reported border reopening and the unresolved questions surrounding security, governance and the exercise of Sierra Leone’s authority in the disputed border community.

The Government of Sierra Leone has not publicly responded to Chief Nyuma’s specific claims regarding the alleged security-led meeting or the absence of senior government officials during the reported reopening of the Yenga border.