LOFA COUNTY, LIBERIA – The Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) has deployed additional troops to Lofa County to strengthen border security amid rising tensions along the frontier between Liberia and Guinea. The soldiers have been stationed at the Voinjama Military Barracks in Voinjama City to provide backup support and reinforce surveillance along the northern border following reports of a shooting incident involving Guinean troops.
The deployment comes as tensions intensified earlier this week near the Sorlumba Port of Entry in Foya District, where residents reported gunfire allegedly carried out by Guinean soldiers near the Liberia–Guinea boundary. The development quickly raised alarm among communities in Lofa County and prompted calls for increased protection of Liberian territory.
According to local sources, the situation escalated dramatically on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, when youths from several towns in Lofa County gathered in large numbers near the border crossing after hearing about the alleged shooting incident. The angry crowd reportedly took control of the Sorlumba Port of Entry in protest against what they described as aggression by Guinean troops.
Witnesses said the youths were heard chanting slogans and vowing to defend their country. “We will protect our land,” several of them shouted as they surged toward the border crossing in a show of defiance that raised fears of a potential confrontation between civilians and armed forces stationed in the area.
The tension was further fueled by reports that a Liberian citizen, Edward Larbie, was allegedly shot in the leg during the incident involving Guinean soldiers. Local residents said the injury to the civilian heightened fears and anger in the community, prompting youths to mobilize around the border point.
As the situation grew increasingly volatile, local authorities moved swiftly to restore calm. Police officers along with the district commissioner in Foya were dispatched to the scene to disperse the crowd and prevent civilians from directly confronting armed personnel near the border.
Meanwhile, Liberia’s military leadership initiated diplomatic efforts to defuse the crisis. The Chief of Staff of the AFL, Brigadier General Davidson Fayiah Forleh, reportedly led a small military delegation to Guinea on Thursday, March 12, in an attempt to promote dialogue and maintain peaceful relations between the two neighboring countries.
Sources familiar with the mission said the Liberian delegation crossed the Makona River by canoe to meet with Guinean military counterparts along the frontier. The visit was aimed at opening direct communication channels and reinforcing the spirit of cooperation that has historically existed between Liberia and Guinea.
While Liberia worked to calm the situation on its side of the border, developments in Guinea suggested the issue had drawn significant attention at the highest levels of government. Reports indicated that Guinean leader Mamadi Doumbouya convened a special session of the High National Defense Council at the Mohammed V Palace on Thursday to review national security developments.
The meeting reportedly brought together senior government and security officials, including National Transitional Council President Dansa Kourouma and Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah, as authorities assessed the evolving border situation. The consultations also came amid unverified reports that Guinean troops had hoisted their national flag in a contested zone in Lofa County, a move that has heightened diplomatic concern and further complicated the already tense situation along the Liberia–Guinea frontier.
