Tensions Escalate at Sierra Leone–Guinea Border as Troops Clash in Sukuba Village
By Osman Marah
Armed confrontation erupted this week between Sierra Leonean and Guinean forces near Sukuba Village in the Kissi Teng Chiefdom, escalating long-standing tensions along the disputed Sierra Leone–Guinea border.
According to military and local sources, Guinean troops on Monday attempted to dislodge Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) personnel from a long-held position in Sukuba, a settlement near the volatile Yenga border area. The attempt was repelled by the RSLAF, prompting Guinean soldiers to fire shots into the air, reportedly causing panic among villagers.
The gunfire triggered a wave of displacement, with scores of civilians fleeing the area to seek refuge in the nearby town of Koindu. “People were terrified. We didn’t know what would happen next,” said one resident who fled with his family.
The incident marks a serious flare-up in a region with a history of territorial disputes dating back to the early 2000s, when Guinean forces occupied Yenga during Sierra Leone’s civil war. Although both countries agreed in principle to resolve the status of the border areas, sporadic incidents and mutual distrust have hindered lasting progress.
Efforts are underway to de-escalate the situation through diplomatic means. Sierra Leone’s government has expressed concern and called for calm, while Guinean officials have yet to issue a formal statement. The process may face delays, as Guinean President Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya is currently out of the country on an official visit.
