By Mackie M. Jalloh
The Government of Sierra Leone has confirmed a cross-border security incident involving the detention of its personnel by members of the Guinean Armed Forces. The development has heightened attention along the northern frontier, particularly in border communities within Falaba District.
In an official statement issued on 24 February 2026, the Ministry of Information and Civic Education disclosed that the incident occurred a day earlier, on 23 February, in Kalieyereh, a border settlement in Sulima Chiefdom, Falaba District. The area lies along the Sierra Leone–Guinea boundary, a zone historically sensitive due to overlapping territorial claims and porous crossings.
According to the release, personnel from the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces and the Sierra Leone Police were engaged in preparatory works for the construction of a new border post and accommodation facility. The project, authorities say, is part of a broader strategy to reinforce state presence and improve coordinated security monitoring in remote frontier regions.
While the joint security team was reportedly molding bricks at the designated site—where the Sierra Leone national flag had been hoisted—armed personnel from the Guinean Armed Forces allegedly crossed into the area and detained several members of the team, including a senior officer. The detained personnel were subsequently transported across the border into Guinean territory. Arms and ammunition in their possession were also seized.
Government officials have characterized the situation as a matter requiring urgent but measured diplomatic engagement. The Ministry stated that established bilateral and security communication channels are being activated to ascertain the conditions of the detained officers and to secure their safe and unconditional release.
In addition to diplomatic outreach, the Government has formally notified relevant national and regional bodies, signaling its intent to pursue a peaceful resolution consistent with international border protocols. A fact-finding delegation has also been dispatched to Kalieyereh to reconstruct the sequence of events, verify territorial coordinates, and assess the operational context under which the confrontation occurred.
While tensions have risen among residents in the affected border communities, authorities have appealed for calm, emphasizing that discussions are ongoing at multiple levels. The Government reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding territorial integrity while maintaining cooperative relations with neighboring Guinea.
Further updates are expected as investigations and diplomatic consultations progress.
