By Amin Kef (Ranger)

Tensions have emerged along the Sierra Leone–Guinea border following conflicting official accounts from both governments regarding an incident that occurred over the weekend in the Falaba–Faranah axis.

In a press release dated February 24, 2026, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Guinea stated that on Sunday, February 22, 2026, several dozen armed Sierra Leonean soldiers allegedly entered Guinean territory without authorization in the district of Koudaya, Sub-Prefecture of Sandénia, Prefecture of Faranah. According to the Guinean authorities, the location was approximately 1.4 kilometres inside Guinean territory, at coordinates 9°59’04.9”N, 11°11’17.6”W, where the soldiers reportedly erected a tent and hoisted the Sierra Leone national flag.

The Guinean Armed Forces said they were immediately deployed to the area upon receiving the alert and confirmed the presence of Sierra Leonean military personnel on the ground. The statement added that sixteen Sierra Leonean soldiers were apprehended and their equipment and materials seized. Guinean authorities further disclosed that the detained personnel and confiscated items had been handed over to the judicial police for investigation.

The release, signed in Conakry by Guinea’s Chief of the General Staff, General of Army Corps Ibrahima Sory Bangoura, commended the Guinean units involved for what it described as their responsiveness and professionalism. It also called on Guinea’s Defense and Security Forces to remain vigilant and mobilized to safeguard the country’s territorial integrity.

However, the Government of Sierra Leone has presented a different account of the incident. In a press release issued on February 24, 2026, by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, authorities in Freetown confirmed that personnel of the Guinean Armed Forces crossed into the border town of Kaliyeréh in Sulima Chiefdom, Falaba District, on Monday, February 23, 2026.

According to the Government of Sierra Leone, members of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) and the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) were deployed in the area at the time, engaged in the production of bricks for the construction of a border post and accommodation facility intended to enhance security operations. The Government stated that the Sierra Leone national flag had been hoisted within territory internationally recognized as belonging to Sierra Leone.

During the encounter, Guinean forces reportedly apprehended several members of the joint security team, including an officer, and transported them across the border into Guinean territory. Their arms and ammunition were also seized.

The Government of Sierra Leone disclosed that it is actively engaging through established diplomatic and security channels to ascertain the exact location and status of the detained personnel and to secure their safe and unconditional release. Authorities further indicated that the matter has been formally communicated to relevant national, regional and sub-regional bodies as part of efforts to ensure a peaceful and amicable resolution.

Officials in Freetown emphasized that the Government remains fully responsive to the situation and has constituted a fact-finding mission to establish the sequence of events and provide clarity on the circumstances surrounding the incident. The public has been assured that updates will be provided as verified information becomes available, underscoring the Government’s commitment to transparency and the maintenance of regional peace and stability. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/guinean-army-confirms-16-sierra-leonean-security-personnel-in-custody-over-border-incursion-diplomatic-efforts-underway/