After days of heightened tensions over a border incident marked by conflicting accounts, the authorities in Guinea have handed over detained Sierra Leonean soldiers to Freetown, easing strains between the two countries.
The Sierra Leonean troops apprehended earlier this week by Guinean forces were returned to their national authorities, Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Communication announced on Friday.
In a statement relayed by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, authorities stressed the primacy of dialogue in resolving the crisis. “Diplomacy is the key,” the ministry said, adding that “our brave soldiers and police officers are now safe in the hands of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Alhaji Timothy Kabba, head of delegation in Guinea.”
The Sierra Leonean government further stated that it remains “committed to exploring all available diplomatic avenues to resolve any dispute with Guinea.
According to Freetown, the soldiers were “recovered safe and sound” following several days of diplomatic tensions triggered by a border incident that occurred between Sunday and Monday.
On February 25, Guinean authorities had announced the arrest of 16 armed Sierra Leonean soldiers who allegedly entered Guinean territory approximately 1.4 kilometers beyond the border, in the Koudaya district of Faranah prefecture. Conakry claimed the troops had set up a camp and raised their national flag, prompting the seizure of their equipment and the launch of an investigation.
That account was disputed by Freetown, which maintained that its personnel were involved in the construction of a border post in the locality of Kaleyereh, in the Falaba district, and in turn accused Guinean soldiers of crossing the demarcation line.
Sierra Leonean authorities had called for the “safe and unconditional” release of their troops while dispatching a fact-finding mission to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident.
AC/lb/as/APA