MONROVIA – The Government of Liberia (GoL) has assured citizens that it is actively addressing the situation unfolding along the Liberia–Guinea border, even as residents of Lofa County have taken a symbolic step to assert the country’s sovereignty by planting the Liberian flag near an area where Guinean soldiers reportedly raised their national flag.
In a statement issued Tuesday, March 10, 2026, the government said it has taken control of the situation and is working through diplomatic channels to prevent any escalation of tensions along the border. The statement, signed by Jerolinmek Mathew Piah, emphasized Liberia’s commitment to addressing the issue peacefully and in the spirit of cooperation that has long characterized relations between Liberia and Guinea.
According to the government, the administration of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai is coordinating closely with national and local authorities while maintaining communication with Guinean officials to ensure the matter is handled diplomatically.
As part of the response, President Boakai reportedly dispatched a high-level inter-ministerial delegation to the border region. The delegation included representatives from the Ministries of Defense, Foreign Affairs, Justice, and Local Government, who were tasked with assessing the situation and engaging local authorities on both sides of the border.
Officials said the discussions were aimed at addressing the immediate concerns raised by the incident while strengthening cooperation between Liberia and Guinea to maintain peace and stability in border communities.
The government reaffirmed that Liberia remains committed to resolving all matters through peaceful dialogue and diplomacy, consistent with the country’s longstanding foreign policy of maintaining friendly relations with neighboring states.
GoL also urged citizens, particularly those residing in border communities, to remain calm and law-abiding while relying only on verified information from official government sources. The government warned that spreading unverified reports could create unnecessary fear and misunderstanding.
Despite these assurances, residents of Foya District in Lofa County responded to the situation in their own way by planting the Liberian flag near the location where Guinean soldiers had reportedly hoisted their flag earlier.
The residents’ action quickly gained national attention and was widely praised by Liberians both at home and abroad, many of whom viewed the gesture as a bold expression of patriotism and a clear defense of Liberia’s territorial integrity.
Reacting to the development, Anderson D. Miamen, Executive Director of the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia, commended the residents for standing up in defense of their country.
In a message posted on his Facebook page, Miamen wrote, “A very big thank you to the men and women who firmly stood up against the reported Guinean Armed Forces personnel who invaded our territory in Lofa County. It was highly unfortunate and unthinkable for anyone to think that they can violently take over another country’s land and nothing happens.”
Miamen also pointed to long-standing weaknesses in Liberia’s border security system, warning that porous borders continue to expose the country to incidents that could threaten national sovereignty if not properly addressed.
“Our borders are very porous. Government needs to do enough to ensure we have adequate training and motivated men and women helping to secure our borders and prevent a repeat of what happened today in Lofa County,” he stated.
The residents’ action also drew praise from Liberian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Leymah Gbowee, who applauded the show of patriotism displayed by citizens in Lofa County.
“I salute the young Liberians that hoisted our nation’s flag in Lofa where soldiers from Guinea had earlier come to hoist their flag,” Gbowee wrote in a brief statement. “Don’t buy into the narrative that Liberians are not patriotic. God bless Liberia and keep us united.”
