Guinean President Mamadi Doumbouya chaired a high-level tripartite summit at the Mohammed V Palace in Conakry on Monday to address escalating border disputes between Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.
The meeting, which took place against a backdrop of increased Guinean military presence at the borders, featured the participation of Presidents Julius Maada Bio and Joseph Boakai, along with Ivorian Foreign Minister Nialé Kaba serving as a special envoy for President Alassane Ouattara.
While the deployment of Guinean troops was presented as a security response to recent localised incidents, the summit emphasised a collective commitment to resolving these frictions through peaceful and diplomatic means.
The discussions primarily centered on specific points of tension within the Mano River Union convergence zone.
Recent friction with Sierra Leone involved the temporary detention of Freetown’s soldiers in Guinean territory in late February, while disputes with Liberia have centered on sand mining activities in the Makona River and the installation of sovereignty symbols.
Additionally, the leaders addressed security concerns in Liberia’s Lofa County, particularly near the Sorlumba area, where clashes involving civilians and armed groups have threatened cross-border trade and the humanitarian well-being of local populations.
To prevent further escalation, the heads of state reaffirmed their adherence to the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity while outlining a concrete strategy for regional stability.
The three nations agreed to enhance security cooperation through joint patrols, improved intelligence sharing, and the creation of early warning mechanisms between defense forces and local authorities.
Technical services have been instructed to convene immediately to continue the essential work of land and maritime border demarcation to reach a final, consensual agreement.
Furthermore, the leaders pledged to hold a broader summit of the Mano River Union within the next month to revitalise the organisation’s role in regional peace and development.
President Doumbouya maintained that while Guinea’s military remains firm in its defensive role, the country’s priority is diplomacy to ensure long-term stability.
Following the summit, President Julius Maada Bio praised the constructive atmosphere of the talks, highlighting a shared determination to strengthen neighbourly ties and secure the borders for the benefit of all three states.
AP
Source: VON – https://von.gov.ng/guinea-hosts-summit-to-ease-border-tensions/
