By Emmanuel Wise Jipoh
Sorlumba, Foya District, Lofa County, March 17, 2026 – More than 150 residents of Mahcustom, a border village in Foya District, Lofa County, are living in fear and displacement following a recent confrontation involving Guinean soldiers and Liberian youths at the Sorlumba port entry point along the Liberia–Guinea border.
Residents say over 17 illegal and unprotected border crossing points exist in the area without the presence of immigration or security personnel, exposing Liberia to potential threats amid growing border tensions.
Among the vulnerable crossing points identified by residents are Yeangbemai Crossing, Jamata Crossing Point, Kenor Border, Zenezu Border, Bolu Crossing Point, Kudu Crossing Point, Quendu Border, Manecom Border, Talobendo Border, Gbadenlemamu Crossing Point, Kpobmo Border, and Legbema Border, among several others.
According to villagers, the absence of security personnel at these crossing points has left the community highly exposed to repeated incursions. Many residents say they were forced to flee their homes following what they described as the recent invasion of Liberian territory by Guinean soldiers.
The latest border dispute has left the small farming community deeply shaken, with residents reporting intimidation, destruction of livelihoods, and growing security concerns.
Villagers explained that their primary source of income, sugarcane farming, has been severely affected, leaving many families struggling to survive.
Community members warned that the existence of at least 17 unprotected border routes exposes citizens to possible attacks and allows unchecked movement across the border.
Tensions reportedly escalated earlier this week when armed Guinean soldiers advanced further into areas near Mahcustom on Tuesday, where they allegedly erected temporary shelters.
However, the situation reportedly changed when a group of youths from nearby Sorlumba confronted the soldiers, forcing them to retreat and temporarily restoring calm to the area.
Speaking to The New Dawn, residents pleaded with the Liberian government to urgently strengthen border security and ensure the protection of citizens living in frontier communities.
Villagers also expressed concern that the increasing presence of foreign soldiers and numerous unmonitored crossing points have placed their safety, livelihoods, and future in serious jeopardy.
Jeremiah Davis, a resident of Sorlumba, called on the government, particularly national security authorities, to urgently intervene and reinforce border protection to safeguard communities living along the volatile frontier.
Meanwhile, the latest confrontation has triggered widespread panic across Mahcustom and surrounding villages in Lofa County. Many residents—particularly women and children—have fled their homes, seeking refuge in Foya and nearby communities.
Several villages are now nearly deserted, with only a few elderly residents remaining behind due to fears of further violence.
Residents lament that the situation threatens the long-standing history of peaceful coexistence and cross-border trade between communities of Liberia and Guinea.
