ECOWAS calls for calm as tensions escalate in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
In a statement issued on March 12, 2026, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) called for maximum restraint and immediate de-escalation following a series of alarming security incidents along the shared borders of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The regional bloc expressed "deep concern" over escalating territorial friction in the Mano River Basin and announced the deployment of a technical assessment mission to evaluate current crises. Reports indicate heightened border tensions in the Mano River region: Liberia Border (Lofa County): Security incidents, including reported incursions and construction disputes in Foya District, have occurred as of March 11, 2026. Sierra Leone Border (Yenga & Falaba): Ongoing disputes, notably around Yenga, have caused friction, with reports of detained security personnel during border construction. ECOWAS is deploying a technical team to investigate the disputed Yenga border area and the Lofa border. Guinea-Bissau’s P...