Yenga; miles away but closer to President Koroma
By July 2008, I was with one of the leading newspapers in Sierra Leone, Awoko. I worked with the paper for a period not exceeding six months but what I gained within those six months, in terms of working in line with the ethics of the profession helped in shaping my present being.
Conference on regional security:
I recall, doing an article on Yenga and this came after I had attended a sub-regional conference on civil society and security sector cooperation, in April of that same year. At the said conference, issues dealing with the security architecture of the West Africa sub region, and with particular reference to the Mano River Union basin, were been reviewed. The conference, held under the theme ‘Strengthening Citizen Security Project’, was organized by Conciliation Resources in partnership with Talking Drum Studio and the Centre for Development and Security Analysis. It was primarily a way of bridging the gaps which were discouraging civil society’s involvement in the security setup of the three MRU states.
Larry Bassie was representing the Office of National Security and one Pascal Bangura chap, a Police Commissioner was on the side of Guinea. Though not featured as an agenda issue, what ended up ‘stealing’ the show at the said conference was Yenga. There was this blunt, brutal but honest views expressed by the then Deputy Chief of staff of the RSLAF Brigadier Nelson Williams that ‘natural justice demands that, what is yours is yours…’ and that “when people are pushed to the corner, they tend to move from sanity to insanity.” The gentleman from Guinea was quick to allay the fears of Sierra Leoneans, when he assured Guinea like Sierra Leone has no intention of fermenting any trouble and that, the security of Sierra Leone was a concern to them.
Border disputes, source for regional instability:
You see, one common fact we have often and again tend to forget, or better put, ignored is that border disputes in Africa have most often served as a recipe for regional instability. Nigeria and Cameroon had some dispute over the Bakasi peninsula, just as Ethiopia and Eritrea did. The conflict between Somalia and two of its neighbors, Ethiopia and Kenya, started with Somali’s independence in 1960 and historians are of the firm belief that, it all emanated from problems created by the lack of an agreement between the colonial and inherited new state boundaries, and, also ethnically homogenous areas. Sierra Leone has not been an exception, when issues of border disputes are discussed.
The Yenga border dispute with a sister sub-regional country, Guinea has continued to generate public debate. Past governments, especially that of Kabba (h) did fail to find lasting solution to the issue. But one thing we cannot dispute as a country is the level of commitment that President Ernest Bai Koroma has shown in using diplomacy in resolving this thorny issue. His resolve has taken a new dimension, with his Guinean counterpart evening calling for a meeting next month for both countries to come out with a final action on this issue. The people of Kailahun must not be breathing a sigh o relief that even though they were neglected years back, President Koroma’s government has not forgotten about them. Coupled with efforts by government to fix up the roads leading to Kailahun, the final resolve of the Yenga issue in the next couple of weeks or months will be a catalyst for people to believe that President Koroma is a national leader that cares about his people. As Commander-in Chief of Sierra Leone, President Koroma’s attention to resolving the Yenga issue through diplomacy puts him well ahead of any leader that may have attempted to handle this thorny issue but failed.
Lasting solution through diplomacy:
I am impressed by the actions of both Sierra Leone’s President Koroma and President Conde of Guinea, in terms of working within the framework of the Mano River Union in not only looking out for sustained and enhanced civil peaceful coexistence, but at the same time, viewing each other’s problem as a collective problem. What I even look forward to is the strengthening of the MRU Secretariat so that it can improve its performance to effectively implement joint border patrols and to convene periodic joint meetings to address security challenges as that of Yenga.
The socio-economic and cultural ties that bind Sierra Leone and Guinea, as well as Liberia should be seen as a pinning point for all these countries to continue to push for the need for peaceful coexistence, in line with the core objectives of the MRU. The three countries within the framework of MRU are so connected, that they all rely on each other, in the area of trade and commerce as in other cases.
But diplomacy is just too necessary, in working towards an amicable settlement of this border dispute and thank God President Koroma has always relied on his experience in diplomacy in handling the issue. Jean-Robert Leguey-Feilleux wrote, in his work, titled “The Dynamics of Diplomacy” that the subject matter of diplomacy, too, has vastly expanded. He opined that for centuries, diplomacy was primarily concerned with matters of war and peace—the use of force—encompassing high politics and strategic interests. These matters are of course still prominent, and now include questions of international security, “but a vast variety of other matters have been added to the diplomatic agenda, pertaining to the economy, technology, scientific developments, education, the arts, law, and so much more…” It is therefore encouraging that we have taken into account the vast variety of other matters involved when dealing with the Yenga issue.
Given the relevance of the subject matter, it is important to quote extensively what Professor Alpha Conde, President of Guinea said, in a declaration made by him on the Yenga issue on the 2nd of June, 2012. Hear him: “Considering our common stand point on the Yenga border issue as expressed in the Joint Communiqué promulgated in Conakry on 14th October, 2011, On the occasion of the friendly and working visit of His Excellency Dr Ernest Bai Koroma, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone. During which we agreed that peace and security are paramount in the sustainability of our bilateral relations. And having resolved expeditiously to settled the Yenga issue through a Joint Commission Meeting as soon as possible in Freetown in order to move to the final solution.”
He underscored the attention that President Koroma has given to this issue, saying, he wants “the Sierra Leonean people to know that since President Koroma’s ascension to the leadership of the country, he had taken the issue of Yenga as a core issue in his agenda. Therefore I President Alpha Conde and President Koroma of Sierra Leone together will visit Yenga in July this year, after which a definite and final decision on the border problem will be taken.” But there was this positive assurance he gave to the people of Kailahun District, “especially those in Yenga, who have come here today that their interest will be protected by both President Koroma and myself to their full satisfaction. I re-emphasise that the border issue between Guinea and Sierra Leone especially that of Yenga and anywhere else will never constitute a source of conflict between Guinea and Sierra Leone” (http://www.statehouse.gov.sl) President Koroma must be commended for his sincerity in addressing this issue and it would also be of importance to acknowledge the role and commitment that the Guinean President has shown in also finding a lasting solution to this issue.
President Koroma has indicated his desire in working towards restoring the dignity and unity of the African people when he said thus; “ Today’s meeting of the two nations at this new border crossing will herald the corrective measures African Leaders are willing to take and must take in order to restore the dignity and unity of the people’s of Africa, in general and our sub-region, in particular…” and what is even more encouraging is that the two leaders have “taken the first concrete step towards the realisation of the Mano River and ECOWAS principles to facilitate the free movement of goods and people and the mutual right of citizens to live and work in any of our countries within the laws of the lands.”( http://news.sl)
Phenomenal developments taking place:
There has been a change in the development rate of Sierra Leone. From infrastructure, to free health, much progress has been made in the last four years of governance. Amadu Masallay, a Sierra Leonean social and political commentator posted in an online FOI discussion forum thus; “…when we assumed office in 2007, our air traveling system was in a bad shape. The Lungi international Airport was in a moribund state with sub-standard facilities. Thus, in line with the rebranding programme GoSL has been pursuing since taking over governance, rehabilitating the Airport to meet international standards was a key priority. In 2010, we initiated various works including the overlaying of the runway, widening of the taxi way and relocation of ground lighting system. Today, we have taken a big step forward in transforming the Lungi international Airport. The ground lighting system is fully functional now; the water supply is adequate; electricity supply increased to 60% and 70% of the X-ray equipment has been purchased and installed. Negotiations are on-going for the purchase of new navigation and communication equipment. Construction work is on-going on the terminal building and helipads in Lungi and Freetown.”
He went further to describe the tremendous achievement that the Koroma presidency has scored in the seaport sector, saying “… the state of the seaport also caught our eyes…in November, 2010, an infrastructure concession agreement between GoSL and the French company, Bollore Africa Logistics, saw the handing over of the container terminal at Queen Elizabeth II Quay to the concessionaire in March 2011…the rehabilitation of the Kissy oil jetty is progressing and construction work focusing on a new oil jetty and port has started. Monitoring equipment such as CCTV together with a tug boat has been acquired…” I can’t agree more with Mr. Masallay on these and other unmentioned achievements .And these achievements are just within a four years period!!
International community is impressed:
The phenomenal development initiatives that have kept taking place in Sierra Leone must have also drawn the attention and admiration of the international community, to which Guinea is no exception. Here in China, Sierra Leone was highly commended for her commitment to peace and the sustenance of her democratic credentials by no less a person than the Deputy Director-General for African Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zheng Zhuqiang. In fact from what I gather, the Foreign Affairs Minister of China visited Sierra Leone two years ago and “had a very good impression about the country.”
Only few weeks back Awoko online newspaper quoted a 12 man UN Security Council delegations to Sierra Leone as saying “We are impressed” (http://www.awoko.org/2012/05/24).It must be as a result the exceptional leadership that President Koroma has been providing, which has been bringing about socio-economic and infrastructural development that we are today getting these commendations from the international community. Make no joke; even President Alpha Conde is impressed with development in Sierra Leone. And because he is impressed with President Koroma and taking into account the bilateral diplomatic relation between Guinea and Sierra Leon, he has come to the fore, in literally telling Sierra Leoneans, that even though Yenga is miles away from Freetown, yet, it is in the heart of President Koroma.
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