By alimamy.jalloh@awokonewspapersl.com
Freetown, SIERRA LEONE – In a dramatic diplomatic development, Sierra Leone and Guinea are turning to century-old British and French colonial treaties to finally resolve the long-standing Yenga border conflict that has strained relations between the West African neighbors for decades.
National Security Coordinator Abdulai Caulker revealed this unprecedented approach during an exclusive briefing, disclosing that teams from both nations are now meticulously analyzing:
- Original colonial-era boundary documents
- The 1974 Sorie Ibrahim Koroma Communique
- Former President Kabbah’s diplomatic agreements
“This isn’t just about lines on a map,” Caulker stressed. “We’re excavating historical records to build lasting peace.”
President Bio has reportedly made resolving the Yenga dispute a top second-term priority, seeking to succeed where his predecessors failed. The urgency follows:
– Guinean construction projects in contested territory
– Escalating security concerns along the border
– Renewed diplomatic efforts since 2023
A bilateral technical commission has already identified multiple border violations, despite colonial treaties expressly forbidding conflicts between the nations.
The recent Conakry summit marked a turning point, with teams focusing on:
1️ Administrative protocols for border management
2️ Legal frameworks from historical treaties
3️ Cartographic evidence to demarcate boundaries.
“This was our most productive meeting yet,” Caulker noted, revealing that six border chiefdoms have been surveyed by joint teams.
With archivists in London and Paris now assisting, the next phase involves:
- Forensic analysis of treaty documents
- High-level validation of findings
- Final demarcation proposals
As Caulker put it: “We’re not just settling a border – we’re rewriting history.” The world watches as these former colonies use their colonial past to chart a peaceful future. AJ/2/4/2025
