By: Saidu Jalloh
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Internal Affairs, AIG (Rtd.) Morie Lengor Esq., emphasized the critical role of the GOLA-REAP Project (Resilience, Empowerment, Access, and Peacebuilding) in promoting peace, resilience, and cross-border collaboration between Sierra Leone and Liberia. His remarks came during the 3rd Steering Committee Meeting of the GOLA-REAP Project, which took place in Monrovia and gathered key stakeholders, including government ministers, UN agencies, civil society organizations, and development partners from both nations.
Minister Lengor described the GOLA-REAP initiative as a “pivotal peacebuilding effort” that has played a key role in strengthening ties and diffusing potential border tensions between Sierra Leone and Liberia. He specifically highlighted the project’s success in addressing fears of a border conflict.
“I recently received persistent and alarming calls about a looming border conflict, but through the collaboration of the Liberian Ministry of Internal Affairs, fears of a repeat of the Yenga crisis were addressed and diffused. This is one of the greatest successes of the GOLA-REAP Project,” Minister Lengor emphasized.
During the ceremony, Minister Lengor was warmly received by his Liberian counterpart, Hon. F. Sakila Nyumalin Sr., and his team, who presented him with a symbolic cultural costume. In return, Minister Lengor gifted a token of appreciation as a gesture of friendship and cooperation between the two nations.
The GOLA-REAP Project, launched on February 27, 2025, is a joint cross-border initiative aimed at promoting peaceful coexistence, building community resilience, and supporting sustainable livelihoods along the Sierra Leone–Liberia border. Located within the Gola Forest landscape, the project also focuses on protecting biodiversity, facilitating cross-border trade, and fostering collaboration among local communities, forest rangers, traditional leaders, and authorities.
In his address, Liberia’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. F. Sakila Nyumalin Sr., underscored the importance of the Gola Forest to both countries. He emphasized that the forest’s ecosystem must be preserved to protect biodiversity and safeguard the environment.
“This ecosystem is vital for both Liberia and Sierra Leone. We must protect it to preserve our biodiversity and safeguard our environment,” Minister Nyumalin said.
He reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to forest protection and community resilience along the border, describing GOLA-REAP as a model for “sustained regional cooperation, environmental conservation, and inclusive development that contributes to peace and social cohesion within the Mano River Union region.”
Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs, Mr. Patrick Gibrilla, stressed the critical role of youth engagement in peacebuilding efforts. He asserted that young people are central to stability and development in the region.
“Youth are agents of change energetic and transformative and must be given meaningful opportunities and a greater voice in the GOLA-REAP process,” Mr. Gibrilla stated.
Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Liberia, Mr. Eddie S. Massally, also spoke at the meeting, stressing the importance of involving Paramount Chiefs from both countries in all project activities to ensure community ownership and the sustainability of project outcomes.
The UN Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone, Madam Seraphine Wakana, described the meeting as a crucial step toward advancing peace and regional integration. She noted that the GOLA-REAP Project represents not only environmental conservation but also sustainable livelihoods and harmony between border communities.
Representing the UN Resident Coordinator in Liberia, Mr. Christian Mukosa, emphasized that further discussions at the country level would deepen collaboration and strengthen development cooperation between the two nations.
The Secretary-General of the Mano River Union, Mr. Simeon Moribah, reaffirmed the Secretariat’s commitment to preserving the Gola Forest and promoting peace across the sub-region.
The GOLA-REAP Project is jointly implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the World Food Programme (WFP), in collaboration with the Governments of Sierra Leone and Liberia, the Mano River Union Secretariat, civil society groups, and national institutions such as Sierra Leone’s National Protected Area Authority (NPPA) and Liberia’s Forestry Development Authority (FDA).
Several Sierra Leonean institutions, including the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, participated in the Steering Committee meeting. The event included an interactive session for feedback, questions, and recommendations aimed at enhancing project delivery.
The meeting concluded with key resolutions, including plans for follow-up field assessments, joint monitoring, and strengthened community resilience measures to protect the Gola transboundary forest ecosystem.
In closing, Minister Lengor and Ambassador Massally, alongside Liberia’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. Nyumalin, visited Liberia’s Minister of Justice, Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh, to reaffirm cross-border cooperation and mutual commitment to peace and security.