By Nathan N. Mulbah (Liberian journalist)
The rather unfortunate recent tension that reared its ugly head along the Liberia-Guinea Border from the Lofa end of the Border certainly sent a rude-awakening to citizens of the two friendly countries that are residents on both sides of the borders. This outburst does not augur well for peace in the Mano River Basin and the sooner we bring a peaceful closure to this disturbing chapter, the better it will be for our very existence as a people in the Mano River Basin and the wider West African sub-region.
Since the formation of Liberia as an independent country in 1847 and the subsequent attainment of independence by Guinea on October 2, 1958, the two neighboring states have co-existed peacefully as sisterly countries championing international affairs in a more cordial manner that befits the national interest of the two countries.
Geographically speaking, the Guinea-Liberia border is 590 km (367 miles) in length and runs from tripoint with Sierra Leone in the west to the tripoint with the Ivory Coast in the east.
Accordingly, the boundary between Liberia and Guinea starts in the west at the tripoint with Sierra Leone on the Makona river, following this river eastwards before running overland to the southeast via a series of irregular lines following this river eastwards before running overland to the southeast via series of very irregular lines.
Strategically, upon reaching the Diani/Nianda it then follows this river southwards, before turning eastwards. It then proceeds in this direction via a series of overland and riverline (such as the Djoule and Mani) sections, turning to the northeast and then finally southeast to the Ivorian tripoint on Mount Nuon in the Nimba Range.
Understandably, settlement near border on the two sides include, for example, on the Guinean side, Guéckédou and Boboueloua while on the Liberian side from the Voinjama end are Gbangoi, Golu, Gbalatuai, Shankpalai, Gahnoa.
Historically, people living on both sides of the Liberia-Guinea borders are intertwined at many fronts ranging from sharing common tribes to intermarriages and common religious faith to the utilization of common farmland.
Overtime, folks living along the Liberia-Guinea border have co-existed peacefully, exchanging cultural values and upholding traditional practices that they share as people speaking common vernaculars only slanted with French or English depending on which side of the border the particular national resides. As a matter of fact, it was the ‘Balkanization’ of Africa through European colonization named and styled as the ‘Scramble of Africa’ or the ‘Partitioning of Africa’ that separated our people right down the middle.
Everything, in terms of peaceful co-existence along the Liberia-Guinea border have proceeded well since the formation of the two countries, except for a short period of sour relation during Liberian civil war, until March 2026 when tension rose along the Guinea-Liberia border along the Lofa straights after reports that Guinean soldiers crossed into Liberian territory near Sorlumba in Foya District, Lofa County.
It was reported that Guinean troops halted road construction work near the Makona River, allegedly seized equipment that were being used in the area and removed a Liberian flag from the location where the dispute allegedly unfolded.
Heartwarmingly, the incident prompted diplomatic engagement between the governments of Liberia and Guinea. President Joseph Boakai, as a man of peace, traveled to Conakry last week for emergency talks with Guinean officials and regional leaders aimed at easing tensions and resolving the snowballing border dispute peacefully.
Notably, Regional organizations including the Economic Community of West African States called for restraint while diplomatic efforts continued to address the situation along the frontier.
In as much as, ‘Yours Truly’ applaud the effort employed by the Liberian and Guinean governments in resolving this unfortunate imbroglio, I wish to call on Liberian citizens who are using the social media to cover and or comment on the event unfolding at the border to be mindful not to use languages that have got the proclivity to escalate and or exacerbate the crises.
It is my sincere wish to use this medium to call on all traditional media, social media outlets and the public to go about reporting and or discussing the matter civilly with the view of resolving it amicably.
We, as united people of the Mano River Union (MRU) should not allow this episode to degenerate and derail the peace in the Mano River Basin. The MRU, as an institution, has helped in manifold ways in promoting peaceful co-existence in the Mano River Basin.
A cursory look down memory lane will show how the MRU promotes peace in Africa through several key initiatives including: fostering cooperation; Border Governance, Regional Stability and Democratic Governance.
The above listed gains that we have chalked under the canopy of the MRU is so unique and important to peaceful co-existence in the Mano River Basin that we cannot afford to sow unnecessary seeds of discord all in the name of territorial control.
Let us please do all we can to keep and preserve the peace we currently enjoy in the Mano River Basin.
