Monrovia – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai on Monday departed Liberia for the Guinean capital, Conakry, where he is expected to participate in a high-level regional meeting aimed at addressing escalating tensions along the Liberia–Guinea border in Lofa County.
According to the Executive Mansion, the emergency meeting will bring together President Boakai, Guinea’s President Mamadi Doumbouya, and the President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, as regional leaders intensify diplomatic efforts to calm tensions and reinforce peaceful border management within the Mano River Union region.
The talks come amid growing concerns following recent incidents in the Sorlumba area of Foya District in Lofa County, where residents reported confrontations between Guinean soldiers and Liberian civilians near the disputed border.
Local authorities say tensions escalated after Guinean troops reportedly crossed into Liberia’s territory near the border community of Sorlumba, sparking alarm among residents and prompting calls for urgent diplomatic intervention.
The Conakry meeting is expected to provide a platform for the leaders to address the dispute, reaffirm respect for territorial boundaries, and strengthen mechanisms for preventing future border conflicts among Mano River Union states.
Also expected to attend the discussions is the President of Côte d’Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara, who will participate as a witness country—reflecting broader regional interest in preserving stability along the interconnected borders of Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone.
The border region serves as a critical corridor for trade, migration, and economic activity among Mano River Union countries, making stability in the area essential to local livelihoods and regional cooperation.
President Boakai is accompanied by a high-level Liberian delegation including Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti; Minister of State without Portfolio Mamaka Bility; National Security Advisor Samuel Kofi Woods II; Local Government Minister Francis Nyumalin; National Defense Minister Geraldine Janet George; and Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia Davidson F. Forleh.
Members of the Liberian delegation are expected to engage their regional counterparts in discussions aimed at strengthening dialogue, preventing further escalation, and ensuring that Mano River Union countries remain committed to peaceful conflict resolution.
Meanwhile, the Executive Mansion said that in the President’s absence, Minister Samuel Stevquoah will chair the Cabinet in consultation with the President.
