ECOWAS Fact-Finding Team Meets MoPED on Yenga Border Dispute
Freetown, Sierra Leone, August 26, 2025 The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED), which also serves as the ECOWAS National Office in Sierra Leone, on Tuesday hosted a high-level ECOWAS delegation on a fact-finding mission to assess the long-standing Yenga border dispute between Sierra Leone and Guinea.
The mission, comprising ECOWAS officials, technical experts, and representatives of the Mano River Union (MRU), engaged in a working session with Honourable Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Kenyeh Barlay, alongside senior government officials.
Welcoming the delegation, Minister Barlay reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to dialogue and peaceful resolution, stressing that the Yenga issue goes beyond land it embodies history, sovereignty, and the peaceful coexistence of peoples. She emphasized that the mission supports the four-point priority agenda of His Excellency Dr. Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone and current Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government: restoring constitutional order, revitalizing regional security cooperation, unlocking economic integration, and strengthening ECOWAS’s institutional credibility.
“For us in Sierra Leone, Yenga is not just about a piece of land, it is about history, sovereignty, and the peaceful coexistence of our peoples. That is why we welcome this ECOWAS mission with open arms and stand ready to provide every support necessary for a fair and lasting resolution,” Minister Barlay said.
Other senior MoPED officials, including Development Secretary Ambrose James, underscored Sierra Leone’s unwavering support for ECOWAS initiatives that promote stability and resilience across the sub-region.
The delegation was led by Dr. Odigie Brown, Program Officer for Mediation at the ECOWAS Commission, alongside Mr. John Azumah, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Sierra Leone. They assured Sierra Leone of the mission’s impartiality, independence, and inclusivity, while highlighting the goal of contributing to sustainable regional peace.
Representatives from the MRU, the ECOWAS Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC), and other technical experts stressed that the matter is regarded as a dispute rather than a conflict
an important distinction aimed at preventing escalation. Their work will include reviewing past initiatives, analyzing conflict dynamics, and consulting affected border communities before presenting recommendations to the ECOWAS Authority.
The mission also consulted with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Lands, the Office of National Security (ONS), and defense and security agencies. These stakeholders provided historical, geographical, and security perspectives on the Yenga issue, all underscoring the urgent need for a peaceful settlement.
The meeting ended with a reaffirmation of joint commitment by Sierra Leone, ECOWAS, MRU, and other partners to pursue dialogue, impartial assessment, and lasting solutions.
For more information, please contact Alfred Kabia at +232 79174027, or visit MoPED’s official website at www.moped.gov.sl, and follow updates on Twitter (@moped2025) and Facebook.
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