Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone Hold Talks Over Border Dispute

Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone have agreed to resolve their border dispute through dialogue after Guinea deployed troops to its frontier with Liberia.

The decision followed a closed-door meeting held in Conakry on Monday and chaired by Guinea’s leader, Mamady Doumbouya. 

Liberian President Joseph Boakai and Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio attended the talks, while Côte d’Ivoire participated as a witness, according to Guinean authorities.

The four countries are members of the Mano River Union, a regional bloc aimed at promoting trade, infrastructure development and security cooperation in the Mano River Basin.

Tensions had risen after Guinea deployed troops to its border with Liberia on Sunday. 

Images released by the Guinean military showed convoys of pickup trucks and armoured vehicles, along with heavily armed soldiers, stationed at a military camp before being dispatched to the frontier.

According to the military’s press office, Doumbouya told the troops that Guinea would not allow any part of its territory to be taken, stressing that the land inherited from the country’s ancestors must be protected.

“I, Mamady Doumbouya, assure the people of Guinea that no portion of the land bequeathed to us by our ancestors will be conquered by anyone”, he said. 

Following the meeting, the three countries said they had agreed to address any border incidents through dialogue and diplomatic channels.

A statement broadcast on Guinean state television said the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the Mano River region and avoiding further escalation along their borders.

They also announced plans to establish joint technical commissions to examine issues related to border delimitation and management.

The talks come as series of recent tensions in the region rises. Liberia last week urged residents living near the Guinean border to remain calm after clashes left one person injured.

Earlier incidents were also reported between Guinea and Sierra Leone in late February, with both sides accusing each other’s military of crossing into their territory. 

Sierra Leone additionally alleged that Guinean troops detained some of its soldiers and police officers for several days following the clashes.

Doumbouya, who came to power in a 2021 coup, was elected president in December in a vote that excluded major opposition figures.