Border Dispute: Guinea Detains 15 S/Leonean Security Officers, Injures One & Seizes Arms
By Kelvin Jay
Emerging reports from Kaliyere Village in Sulima Chiefdom, Falaba District, indicate that 15 Sierra Leonean security personnel have been detained by Guinean soldiers amid rising tensions along the Sierra Leone–Guinea border.
Initial accounts indicate that the incident occurred while officers of the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) were constructing a security checkpoint at a location believed to fall within Sierra Leone’s territorial boundary. Guinean military personnel reportedly intervened and ordered an immediate halt to the project, citing the need to verify the exact boundary demarcation before any construction could proceed.
Those reportedly detained include members of the Operational Support Division (OSD) of the SLP and personnel from the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF). Sources claim the officers were transported into Guinean territory and initially denied communication access.
Speaking earlier on the situation, RSLAF Defence Spokesman Air Commodore Hassan Sei Coomber confirmed that the confrontation occurred in Kaliyere Village, alleging that Guinean troops crossed into Sierra Leonean territory, lowered the national flag, and detained security personnel deployed at the site. He described the situation as tense and unpredictable but urged residents to remain calm. He further confirmed that while no fatalities were recorded, one Sierra Leonean officer was assaulted during the encounter and is currently receiving medical treatment after sustaining injuries.
In a press release dated 24th February 2026, the Government of Sierra Leone confirmed that personnel of the Guinean Armed Forces (GAF) crossed into the border town of Kalieyereh, Sulima Chiefdom, where members of the RSLAF and SLP had been deployed.
According to the statement, Sierra Leonean security personnel were engaged in making bricks for the construction of a border post and accommodation facility intended to enhance security operations in the area. The Government maintained that the Sierra Leone national flag had been hoisted within territory recognized as belonging to Sierra Leone.
The statement further disclosed that during the encounter, Guinean Armed Forces personnel 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 reportedly seized.
Government assured the public that it is actively engaging through established diplomatic and security channels to confirm the location of the detained personnel and secure their safe and unconditional release. The matter has been formally communicated to relevant national, regional, and sub-regional authorities.
A fact-finding mission has been constituted to immediately visit the area to establish the sequence of events and provide further clarity. Authorities emphasized that engagement is ongoing to ensure a peaceful and amicable resolution.
Residents of border communities in Falaba District have expressed concern over the escalating tensions, noting that the Sierra Leone–Guinea boundary has historically experienced intermittent disputes linked to demarcation and cross-border security operations.
Local authorities and community leaders are appealing for calm, urging both governments to resolve the matter through dialogue and diplomatic channels to prevent further escalation and safeguard cross-border relations.
The Government has assured citizens that it remains fully seized of the situation and will continue to provide updates as verified information becomes available.
