Gambiaj.com – (FREETOWN, Sierra Leone) – Tensions have escalated between Sierra Leone and Guinea following the reported capture of Sierra Leonean security personnel by Guinean forces in a disputed border area, with diplomatic efforts now underway to secure their release.
Sierra Leone’s Defense Spokesman, Hassan Sei Coomber, confirmed that the detained personnel remain in custody in Guinea and that negotiations are ongoing for their unconditional release. He disclosed that the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Timothy Musa Kabba, is leading a delegation to engage Guinean authorities over the matter.
The development stems from reports in Kaliyere Village, Falaba District, Northern Sierra Leone, alleging that Guinean soldiers crossed into Sierra Leonean territory and apprehended several officers of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) and the Operational Support Division (OSD) before withdrawing.
The incident gained widespread attention after a video circulated on social media in which a Sierra Leone Army lieutenant claimed he sustained serious injuries during the confrontation. He alleged that he was stabbed near the eye and had his ear pierced, and further stated that several colleagues, including a captain identified as Francis, were captured.
However, Guinean authorities have strongly contested Sierra Leone’s account.
Conakry Insists Sierra Leonean Troops Breached Its Territorial Integrity
In a communiqué issued on February 24, 2026, the Guinean Armed Forces, through the General Staff, stated that on Sunday, February 22, “several dozen” armed Sierra Leonean soldiers unlawfully entered Guinean territory in the district of Koudaya, Sandénia Sub-prefecture, Faranah Prefecture.
According to the statement, the group penetrated approximately 1.4 kilometers inside Guinea, erected a tent, and hoisted the Sierra Leonean flag at specified GPS coordinates.
Guinean forces said they immediately deployed to the area, where they “intercepted” 16 Sierra Leonean military personnel and seized their equipment. The detainees and confiscated materials were subsequently handed over to the judicial police for investigation.
The communiqué, signed by the Guinean Chief of the General Staff, General Ibrahima Sory Bangoura, commended the responding units for their vigilance and reaffirmed Guinea’s commitment to protecting its territorial integrity.
The dispute has now drawn regional attention.
Freetown Pushes for Unconditional Release of Captured Security Personnel
During an Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament on February 24, 2026, Sierra Leonean Member of Parliament Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina formally raised what he described as a “grave breach” of Sierra Leone’s territorial sovereignty.
He alleged that Guinean forces entered Kaliyereh Village in Sulima Chiefdom, Falaba District, on February 23 and captured 13 RSLAF personnel, including a captain, who were reportedly transported to Conakry.
Hon. Lamina presented geographical and GPS evidence to support Sierra Leone’s claim that the disputed location falls within the jurisdiction of a sitting Sierra Leonean lawmaker, reinforcing what he termed the country’s sovereign claim over the territory.
He further argued that the latest confrontation forms part of a troubling pattern of border-related tensions between the two countries. He referenced previous incidents in Yenga, Kailahun District, in 2025; disputes at Gbane-Kandor in Kono District earlier in 2026; and the February 23 confrontation in Falaba District.
ECOWAS Parliament Orders Fact-Finding Mission Amid Rising Regional Concern
Invoking Article 4(d) of the ECOWAS Parliament’s mandate, which obliges member states to promote regional peace and security, Hon. Lamina cautioned that while ECOWAS principles such as free movement are central to regional integration, they must not undermine national sovereignty.
Rather than advocating retaliation, he called for enhanced military diplomacy and structured cooperation among ECOWAS member states to resolve cross-border disputes peacefully.
To underscore the risks of regional inaction, he cited the post-World War II warning by German theologian Martin Niemöller on the dangers of remaining silent in the face of violations.
In response, the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Memounatou Ibrahima, called for the immediate establishment of a fact-finding committee.
The committee will be mandated to gather independent and detailed information on the situation in the disputed area to inform the Parliament’s next course of action.
As diplomatic channels remain active, the incident underscores the fragility of border relations in parts of West Africa and the test it poses to regional mechanisms designed to manage disputes without escalation.
