Sierra Leone Deploys Army Garrison in Kissi Teng Amid Rising Tensions Over Yenga

May 4, 2025

The Sierra Leone Armed Forces have established a military garrison near the village of Yenga in the Kissi Teng Chiefdom, located on the country’s eastern border.

This move comes in response to increased tensions following recent actions by Guinean troops, who reportedly entered Sierra Leonean territory near Yenga, fired gunshots, and temporarily shut down the border.

In an effort to restore calm and reassure the local population, Sierra Leone deployed armed troops to Gbondu and other nearby villages. Residents in the area had grown increasingly concerned about the presence and behavior of Guinean forces.

Yenga has long been a flashpoint in a territorial dispute between Sierra Leone and Guinea. The village gained prominence during Sierra Leone’s civil conflict in the late 1990s, when Guinean forces entered the area to support the fight against rebel groups. Their continued presence since then has fueled ongoing tensions between the two nations.

Efforts to resolve the matter through diplomacy are underway. Meanwhile, communities in the region, which depend heavily on trade with neighboring Guinea and Liberia, are feeling the strain of the ongoing dispute and border disruptions.

Local voices are calling for stronger investment in infrastructure and economic activities in the region, arguing that improved road networks and consistent government presence could strengthen Sierra Leone’s claim and support local livelihoods.