SLIRSA Condemns Guinea’s Occupation of Yenga, Calls for Urgent Diplomatic Action

The Sierra Leone International Relations Students Association (SLIRSA) has publicly condemned Guinea’s ongoing occupation of Yenga, a territory recognized as sovereign land of Sierra Leone.

The organisation issued a press release titled “Yenga Is Sierra Leone: The Time for Diplomatic Resolve is Now,” emphasizing the urgent need for diplomatic and legal measures to address the long-standing issue.

In their statement, SLIRSA described the occupation as an “unacceptable violation” of Sierra Leone’s territorial integrity, asserting that Yenga represents not only a piece of land but also a significant aspect of the nation’s pride and constitutional sovereignty.

“The silence and slow diplomatic progress over the years have bred frustration, undermined public confidence in our foreign policy structures, and created room for regional instability,” the statement noted. They said that while Sierra Leone has consistently pursued peaceful dialogue, “patience must not be mistaken for weakness.”

SLIRSA has called on the Sierra Leonean government to present the matter at the highest international levels, including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU), and the United Nations (UN). Additionally, the association urged legal action to be taken at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to secure an enforceable resolution regarding the dispute.

“Prolonging this issue only erodes our credibility in international forums and emboldens actions that violate the territorial rights of smaller states across the continent,” SLIRSA warned in their statement.

The students further demanded transparency from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, pressing for regular public updates regarding negotiations and the government’s diplomatic strategies on this critical matter. “This is a national issue, and citizens deserve to be informed,” they asserted.

As emerging diplomats and scholars, SLIRSA pledged to keep the Yenga dispute in the national spotlight through academic and civil society engagement. “Real peace comes from assertive diplomacy, not passive talks,” the statement concluded, stressing that “Yenga is, and will always be, Sierra Leonean. The time for decisive action is now.”

The strong stance taken by SLIRSA has ignited renewed discussions across social media platforms, with numerous Sierra Leoneans expressing their support for more robust diplomatic actions in resolving the territorial dispute.

Yenga is a small village located on the eastern border between Sierra Leone and Guinea. Guinean troops first settled in the village in the late 1990s when Sierra Leone was in a civil war. The Guineans have failed to return despite calls from the Sierra Leonean government to leave the village.

Tensions between the two countries over the village have escalated in recent days after troops from Guinea crossed into the village fired gunshots. The situation caused chaos among locals in the village thereby leading to the Sierra Leone troops to station just outside the village. The Sierra Leone government said that they are seeking diplomatic means to reclaim the village. The Guinean junta government has been silent over the issue raising serious over their intention of returning the land to Sierra Leone.