The Cold War Between Guinea and Sierra Leone… Where Is MRU and ECOWAS?
By: Lansana Fofanah
The long-standing bilateral relations between Guinea and Sierra Leone is facing a crucial test following the deportation of some Sierra Leoneans by the Guinean authorities last week.
According to the Sierra Leone Press Attache in Guinea, Sitta Turay, the best diplomatic protocol of communication via Note Verbale was not followed as they were taken by surprise to see undocumented Sierra Leoneans being chased and bundled back to Sierra Leone.
A reasonable effort could have been implored by the government of Guinea to engage its counterpart in Sierra Leone if it has any concern with its nationals regarding their status in their country.
This could have led to the identification of those affected and a possible means to repatriate them with dignity.
Over the weekend, security forces in Sierra Leone, were believed to have conducted some raids around the Lumley beach area in the west-end of Freetown where some people were arrested.
Just like how the Guinean authorities claim to have many undocumented Sierra Leoneans living there, the same could be said here as well where you have lots of Guineans across the country undocumented.
Such a trend has the potential to affect trade and economic growth between the two nations.
So there is every need for the protection of both citizens.
Despite ongoing diplomatic engagements between the two countries, social media seems to be escalating the situation by giving different versions from both sides by sharing unrelated contents and images.
The bilateral relations between Guinea and Sierra Leone, span for decades, sharing ethnic and cultural relations, playing a pivotal role in the Mano River Union and ECOWAS.
But factors like the disputed border town of Yenga which Guinea has consistently laid a claim to has questioned the once-strengthened bond between the two nations.
There has been a series of diplomatic engagements involving high profile government figures from Sierra Leone, but it seems to take us nowhere.
The late President Ahmad Tejan Kabba of Sierra Leone and late President Lansana Conde of Guinea had their fair share of the Yenga debate.
Former president Ernest Bai Koroma and former president Alpha Conde continued the same negotiation but to no avail.
President Bio has strengthened the commitment and engagement to give a lasting solution, and it is the expectations of Sierra Leoneans that the deadlock would be broken under his leadership.
President Bio is loved and respected by the current military ruler in Guinea Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya.
It is also imminent for regional bodies like the ECOWAS and the Mano River Union to immediately assess the current relations between Sierra Leone and Guinea and to see how thorny issues could be resolved.
Negotiation and engagement are tenets of diplomacy and not tit for that.
News 24
