By: Ilyasa Baa
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Sierra Leone are considering calling on the Government of the President to change the approach towards the Yenga border issue.
Charles Mambu, a seasoned CSO has said all efforts to gain control of Yenga has proven fruitless from the days of Pa Kabba right on the Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma. “The method has to change, we have not seen sincerity on the part of the Guineans in terms of leaving Yenga, he said, adding that fresh moves should be made. He said one of the moves the CSOs will have to take is to fully engage the Guinean Ambassador in Freetown, engage the Mano River Union (MRU), ECOWAS Office and the Sierra Leonean community-based in Guinea about the need for peaceful settlement over the overstretching Yenga border issue.
He stressed that the deployment of soldiers at the Yenga border by Sierra Leone is not ideal considering its potential to spark violence in the area. He said Sierra Leoneans and Guineans are one people noting that the Guineans have not shown much sincerity in the negotiations held so far. He stated that the visit of Col Mamadi, the Guinean military leader to President Bio at State House was a demonstration of brotherhood and unity between the two countries.
He reiterated the need for more constructive engagements with the sisterly country noting that the colonial masters know Yenga is part of Sierra Leone.
Sierra Leoneans interviewed on the deployment of the Guinean military on the Sierra Leone side of the Yenga border have proffered that since the engagements have not given Sierra Leoneans the desired result, the Guinean Government should be sued the ECOWAS Court as a way of dealing with the issue once and for all.
They said being the two leaders have a military background, it is possible that the two men can resolve the issue peacefully.
It could be recalled that the current Bio-led administration had approached the Guinean Government under the deposed Alpha Conde for a peaceful settlement of the Yenga border issue.