Guinea Agrees to Withdraw Troops from Yenga in Breakthrough MRU Peace Deal
By Osman Marah
A major diplomatic breakthrough has been reached in the long-running border dispute between Sierra Leone and Guinea, as Guinea’s transitional leader, Mamady Doumbouya, has agreed to withdraw Guinean troops from the contested town of Yenga.
The agreement was finalized in Conakry during a high-level summit of the Mano River Union (MRU), bringing together regional leaders including Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio and Liberia’s President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
Hon. Ing. Fallah Tengbeh, Member of Parliament for Kailahun District where Yenga is located confirmed the development during an appearance today on Epic Radio Morning show program, describing the agreement as a “significant step” toward resolving years of tension.
Yenga, a small but strategically sensitive border town, has been at the center of a protracted dispute between Sierra Leone and Guinea since the early 2000s. Guinean forces have maintained a presence in the area despite repeated diplomatic efforts and prior agreements calling for their withdrawal.
The latest deal signals renewed political will among MRU member states to address unresolved border issues and strengthen regional cooperation. However, details on the timeline for the troop withdrawal and mechanisms for verification have not yet been made public.
Analysts caution that while the agreement marks progress, its success will depend on full implementation and sustained diplomatic engagement between both countries.
The government of Sierra Leone has not yet issued an official statement outlining next steps, but the development is expected to be closely monitored by both local authorities in Kailahun and regional observers.
