MONROVIA – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai on Monday, March 16, 2026, departed Monrovia for Conakry, Guinea, where he will participate in high-level regional talks aimed at addressing rising tensions along the Liberia–Guinea border in Lofa County. The meeting comes amid growing concerns over reported confrontations between Guinean troops and Liberian civilians near the disputed frontier.
The summit will bring together President Boakai, Mamady Doumbouya, Guinea’s President, and Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone and current chairman of the Economic Community of West African States. The meeting is expected to focus on de-escalating tensions and strengthening cooperation along the border.
Regional observers say the dialogue is crucial as recent developments along the frontier have unsettled residents in several border communities. Local authorities in Foya District reported incidents in the Sorlumba area where Guinean soldiers allegedly crossed into territory claimed by Liberia.
Residents of the area say the situation intensified after Guinean troops reportedly moved across the Makona River and entered disputed areas near Sorlumba. The development has raised concerns about the safety of civilians living in border communities where trade and movement traditionally occur freely.
Officials say the Conakry meeting will provide a platform for the leaders to review the incidents, verify claims from both sides, and establish mechanisms to prevent further misunderstandings along the frontier.
The President of Côte d’Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara, is also expected to attend the discussions as a witness, reflecting broader regional interest in preserving stability among the Mano River basin countries.
The border area between Liberia and Guinea remains a vital economic corridor for local communities and for the Mano River Union, which includes Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire. Any instability along the frontier could disrupt trade, agriculture, and movement of people.
President Boakai is accompanied by a high-level Liberian delegation including Foreign Affairs Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Minister of State without Portfolio Mamaka Bility, National Security Advisor Samuel Kofi Woods II, Local Government Minister Francis Nyumalin, Defense Minister Geraldine Janet George, and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Brigadier General Davidson F. Forleh.
Members of the delegation are expected to engage their regional counterparts in discussions aimed at reinforcing dialogue and ensuring that border disputes within the Mano River Union are addressed peacefully.
Meanwhile, the situation has sparked strong reactions from some Liberian security veterans. Retired Captain William Phillip Anderson, who describes himself as national chairman of a group of former Armed Forces of Liberia soldiers, warned against any attempt to encroach on Liberian territory.
In a statement issued Monday, Anderson said Liberia’s war veterans remain committed to defending the country’s sovereignty. He claimed that thousands of former soldiers stand ready to support the government in protecting the nation’s territorial integrity.
According to Anderson, the Guinean army should not underestimate the resolve of Liberia’s former combatants, whom he described as experienced and battle-tested infantry forces capable of defending the country if necessary.
Civil society actors have also weighed in on the dispute. Liberian activist Martin Kollie issued a strongly worded statement questioning Guinea’s actions along the border and urging respect for the Franco-Liberian Boundary Treaty of 1907, which established the Makona River as the recognized boundary between the two nations.
Kollie alleged that Guinean troops crossed the Makona River, hoisted their national flag on territory claimed by Liberia, and opened fire on unarmed civilians, actions he said would constitute serious violations of international law if confirmed.
Despite the accusations, Kollie emphasized that Liberia’s leadership has consistently chosen diplomacy rather than confrontation. He urged Guinea’s authorities to embrace dialogue and peaceful negotiations as the path toward resolving the dispute.
As the Conakry meeting approaches, regional observers say the outcome of the talks could determine whether the current tensions subside through diplomacy or evolve into a deeper diplomatic standoff within the Mano River region.
