At an Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja, Nigeria, Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina raised serious concerns over a reported territorial incursion by Guinean forces into Kaliyereh Village, Sulima Chiefdom, Falaba District, Northern Sierra Leone.
Citing Article 4(d) of the ECOWAS Parliament’s mandate, which obliges Members of Parliament to promote peace, security, and stability across West Africa, Hon. Lamina drew attention to the alleged breach of Sierra Leone’s territorial integrity. He reported that Guinean forces reportedly crossed into Kaliyereh Village and apprehended 13 personnel of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, including a Captain, who were allegedly transported to Conakry.
Hon. Lamina stressed that while the ECOWAS principle of free movement of persons and labour mobility is central to regional integration, it must not compromise sovereignty or security. He referenced previous border tensions at Yenga, Kailahun District in 2025, and Gbane-Kandor, Kono District earlier this year, noting that Kaliyereh was reportedly subjected to a similar incursion on 23 February 2026, during which Sierra Leonean soldiers were allegedly apprehended and assaulted.
He emphasized that geographical and GPS evidence confirms that the disputed area falls within the jurisdiction of a sitting Sierra Leonean Member of Parliament, reinforcing the country’s sovereign claim. Rather than advocating militarization, Hon. Lamina recommended strengthened military diplomacy and capacity-building mechanisms among ECOWAS Member States to manage sensitive cross-border security issues through dialogue and structured cooperation.
Highlighting the dangers of remaining silent in the face of injustice, he quoted German theologian Martin Niemöller:
“First, they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me.”
Hon. Lamina warned that while Sierra Leone may be at the centre of a border dispute today, any Member State could face similar circumstances if regional solidarity and lawful engagement are not upheld.
In response, the Rt. Hon. Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Memounatou Ibrahima, called for the establishment of a fact-finding committee to gather detailed information on the situation and guide the Parliament’s next course of action.