BudgIT Sierra Leone has called on the government to take firm and decisive action to resolve the long-standing border dispute with Guinea over the Yenga region in Kailahun District, Eastern Sierra Leone.

The organisation expressed deep concern over recent reports of residents being displaced from Yenga and nearby communities like Sokoma due to security threats from Guinean forces in the area.

In a statement, BudgIT Sierra Leone said the unresolved dispute continues to disrupt the lives and livelihoods of Sierra Leonean citizens and threatens the country’s sovereignty. The group stressed the need for sustainable peace, security, and a clear resolution to the ownership of Yenga, a matter that has remained unsettled for more than two decades.

While BudgIT commended the government for engaging in diplomatic talks with Guinea, it warned that these efforts must go beyond symbolic gestures and lead to concrete results. The organisation urged the Sierra Leone government to make its position clear and ensure that any negotiations are guided by firm timelines and real commitments.

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“Yenga is in Sierra Leone,” the statement read calling for every part of the country and its citizens to be protected with equal urgency. BudgIT Sierra Leone demanded principled diplomacy that brings not just peace but closure to the issue.

The group also appealed to the government to pursue the matter with courage and clarity, and to prioritise the safety and dignity of the affected communities.

Originally in Sierra Leone, Yenga has been an issue between the two countries since the end of the Sierra Leone civil war in the 90s. The village garrisoned Guinean troops fighting the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels during the war. After the war ended, the Guineans refused to leave sparking diplomatic controversy between the two sister countries.

However, there was a glimmer of hope between 2011 and 2012 when the village demilitarised. However, that hope was dashed when the Guinean leadership constructed a military barracks in the village, threatening the livelihoods of Sierra Leoneans residing there.

Earlier this year, the situation took a new turn when Guinean soldiers in full military fatigue stormed the village and its surroundings firing live rounds. That action prompted swift response from the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) who stationed a standby force at Sokoma village in a bid to halt the Guineans from advancing.

The Sierra Leonean Government, seeking to avoid an all-out war with its neighbour, is exploring diplomatic means to resolve the issue.