Yenga Dispute at ECOWAS: Why President Bio Avoided the UN Stage
By: Musa Kamara | Intern Reporter, Epic Radio
The Yenga border dispute between Sierra Leone and Guinea has long been a source of tension and diplomatic negotiations in the Mano River Basin. Yet, when President Julius Maada Bio took the stage at the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York, many Sierra Leoneans expected him to spotlight the issue before world leaders. His silence on Yenga left some puzzled, sparking questions about the government’s strategy.
Presidential Spokesman Alpha Kahn has now clarified the reasoning. Speaking on the Epic Morning Show on Epic Radio, Kahn explained that President Bio deliberately refrained from raising the Yenga matter at the UN because it is currently under the consideration of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), where Bio himself serves as Chairman.
“The Yenga matter is with ECOWAS, so President Bio cannot take it to the UN unless ECOWAS first makes a ruling. It was not the right place to do so,” Kahn stressed.
Yenga, a small border town in the Kailahun District of Eastern Sierra Leone, became a flashpoint during Sierra Leone’s civil war in the 1990s. At the height of the conflict, Guinean troops crossed into Sierra Leonean territory to help secure the border against rebel forces of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF).
Although the war officially ended in 2002, Guinea has since maintained its presence in Yenga. Successive governments in Freetown have sought to resolve the issue through bilateral dialogue, regional diplomacy, and mediation under ECOWAS. Yet, two decades later, the matter remains unresolved a lingering symbol of unfinished post-war reconciliation between the two neighbours.
For many Sierra Leoneans, the UN General Assembly seemed like an ideal global stage to amplify Sierra Leone’s grievance. However, Kahn argued that bypassing ECOWAS would have been diplomatically improper.
“If the President knew the Yenga issue could not be solved, he would have taken it to the UN General Assembly. But as it stands now, the matter is with ECOWAS, so we must wait for their decision,” Kahn clarified.
This underscores a key diplomatic reality: Sierra Leone is bound by the principle of regional subsidiarity, where ECOWAS takes precedence in resolving disputes within West Africa before escalation to global forums like the UN.
Kahn emphasized that Sierra Leone is managing the Yenga matter with extreme caution, prioritizing peace over confrontation.
“We are managing the Yenga situation because we do not want to fight. If we were to do so, it would not only affect the people of Yenga but the nation at large. That is why we are managing the situation carefully,” he said.
This careful posture reflects a wider foreign policy principle under the Bio administration: conflicts are best resolved at the negotiating table rather than on the battlefield.
As Chairman of ECOWAS, President Bio occupies a strategic position to shape the eventual resolution of Yenga. Kahn reassured the public that the dispute will not be forgotten or abandoned.
“If President Bio, as Chairman of ECOWAS, does not resolve the matter, that does not mean the issue will be forgotten,” he maintained.
He also praised Bio’s growing international clout, noting the President’s increasing responsibilities on the world stage.
“President Bio is wearing many hats on the international stage at this time,” Kahn added.
Kahn also pointed to Sierra Leone’s peace rankings as evidence of Bio’s leadership in maintaining national stability.
“We are the fifth most peaceful country in Africa, and the most peaceful in the Mano River Union and West Africa. These are accolades we should be proud of President Bio for, in keeping the peace of this country.”
This reputation as a peaceful nation strengthens Sierra Leone’s diplomatic leverage in handling disputes like Yenga, where patience and negotiation are crucial.
Highlighting Bio’s inclusive leadership style, Kahn pointed out that the President invited opposition lawmaker Hon. Mohamed Bangura of the All People’s Congress (APC) to accompany him to the UN General Assembly.
“That shows how inclusive his government is,” he said, framing it as a gesture of unity and bipartisan diplomacy.
Beyond Yenga, Kahn acknowledged Sierra Leone’s domestic challenges, particularly financial constraints that sometimes delay salary payments. Nevertheless, he argued that Bio’s international engagements bring credibility and visibility to Sierra Leone in global affairs.
He also reaffirmed the continued importance of the UN in peace-building worldwide:
“The UN has the ability to prevent conflicts in the world, as that is one of the key reasons it was created.”
The Yenga dispute remains one of Sierra Leone’s most sensitive foreign policy challenges. While some citizens may have wished to see President Bio confront the matter at the UN, his spokesman’s clarification places the issue firmly within ECOWAS’s remit. For now, Freetown appears committed to a path of cautious diplomacy, regional mediation, and the avoidance of armed conflict.
As Kahn rightly noted, the question is not whether Yenga will be resolved, but when and whether diplomacy can deliver a peaceful outcome where force has long loomed as a dangerous alternative.
