Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Alhaji Timothy Musa Kabba, has credited Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh for what he described as a decisive diplomatic intervention that secured the release of 16 detained Sierra Leonean security personnel from Guinea on 27 February 2026.
The soldiers were arrested on 22 February 2026 in the Koudaya District of Guinea’s Faranah Region amid renewed tensions along the disputed Sierra Leone-Guinea border. Guinean authorities alleged that the troops had crossed into their territory. However, Sierra Leone maintained that its personnel were at Kalieyereh in Falaba District constructing a border post when Guinean forces crossed the frontier and detained them.
The disagreement highlights a longstanding boundary dispute dating back to colonial-era demarcations. In response to the incident, the Government of Sierra Leone activated diplomatic and security channels rather than escalating the matter militarily.
Vice President Juldeh Jalloh, acting as Commander-in-Chief in the absence of President Julius Maada Bio who is also Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government constituted and mandated a high-level delegation to engage Guinean authorities in Conakry.
Minister Kabba led the delegation and held talks with Guinea’s Prime Minister, Amadou Oury Bah. According to officials, the discussions were firm yet constructive and culminated in the safe handover of the detained personnel on 27 February 2026.
Speaking in Freetown during a dinner reception at the Vice President’s residence, Minister Kabba described the intervention as “decisive and timely.”
“When the incident happened, you showed remarkable courage and leadership,” he told the Vice President. “You provided the inspiration. It is your instruction that we took to Conakry.”
Vice President Juldeh Jalloh, who warmly welcomed the servicemen and women, praised their courage and professionalism. He emphasised the deep cultural and familial ties between the two countries, stating, “Guinea and Sierra Leone are two countries but one people.”
The episode has reinforced Sierra Leone’s commitment to resolving disputes through peaceful dialogue and high-level negotiation. It also underscores the role of regional diplomacy and leadership in preventing escalation and maintaining stability within West Africa.
