By: HRCSL Communication Unit
The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) conducted a fact-finding mission in Yenga on Thursday, 15th May, and Friday, 16th May, 2025, to assess the current situation and address the human rights concerns of the affected people in the area.
The team, led by Commissioner Simitie Lavaly, included several HRCSL staff members, such as Director of Human Resources Peter Abraham Koroma, Deputy Director and Head of Southern Region Office Emmanuel Thomas, Acting Head of Eastern Region Office Tanneh Kumba Koroma, Senior Human Rights Officer Ibrahim Tarawallie, Human Rights Officer Francis Baigeh Johnson, and Regional Coordinator East of the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion Francis Mustapha Sengeh. Additionally, Amos Koroma and Roland John Momodu from the Kailahun District Human Rights Committee were also part of the team.
Yenga, a village located in the Kissi Teng Chiefdom in Kailahun District, has been at the center of a long-standing dispute between Guinea and Sierra Leone over its ownership. The conflict dates back to 2002 and has been exacerbated by the continued closure of the border. In January 2021, the Commission conducted an initial fact-finding mission to assess the situation and the impact of the border closure on the local population. Findings and recommendations were subsequently submitted to the government for action.
This latest mission was prompted by an incident on April 29th, 2025, when Guinean troops took control of the Yenga area and several key border crossing points. This move restricted the movement of local residents and prevented them from accessing their farmlands. The HRCSL identified several issues affecting the community, including threats to safety and security, poor hygiene conditions, deprivation of livelihoods, displacement, and lack of access to education and healthcare.
In response to the situation, the government has deployed military personnel to secure the villages surrounding Yenga, while diplomatic efforts are ongoing.
During an engagement with key stakeholders, including the affected people in Koindu Town on Thursday, 15th May, Town Chief of Yenga, Tamba Nyuma, recounted the hardship faced by his people. He explained that the recent incursion by Guinean soldiers has led to significant suffering, with soldiers asserting control over the land by building houses, raising their flag, and restricting the movement of Sierra Leoneans in and out of the community.
“We decided to escape at night for our lives without taking anything along. Currently, we don’t have a strategic place to stay or make ends meet. We’re squatting here in Koindu Town. We have become displaced in our own country, and our children can’t attend school because of the prevailing situation,” Chief Nyuma said, urging the government to find a swift resolution to the crisis.
Musu James, the Chairlady of Yenga Town, expressed concerns about their livelihoods and the education of their children. “We’ve left behind our plantations and other sources of livelihood that we depend on for survival. We are struggling right now. We want to return to our community so that our children can continue their schooling,” she said.
Fallah Jusu, the Chiefdom Speaker of Kissi Teng, also voiced his frustrations, noting that despite sending reports to government authorities about the Guinean occupation, nothing had been done. “They have now occupied our land, and we do not have the power to fight them. We don’t want war; all we are asking for is a peaceful and permanent solution to this crisis,” he said.
Commissioner Simitie Lavaly responded to the concerns of the affected individuals, expressing empathy and urging them to remain patient. She assured the community that the Commission would engage with the government to seek an amicable and lasting resolution to the situation.
The HRCSL team, which included representatives from the Kailahun District Human Rights Committee and the Peace Commission, also conducted a tour of the border area and engaged two other affected communities Sokoma and Pengu Bengu.
