By Lincoln G. Peters
FOYA, Lofa County, August 11, 2026 – Calm has returned to the Sorlumba border crossing in Foya District, Lofa County, following a tense encounter between officers of the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) and Guinean soldiers over an alleged attempt to move toward the Liberian checkpoint amid reported plans to construct a customs facility near the border.
Local reports said Guinean soldiers on Sunday demanded that LIS officers vacate their post at the Sorlumba crossing to allow construction work to proceed. The Liberian officers reportedly rejected the demand and prevented the soldiers from advancing through the checkpoint.
However, Foya District Commissioner Saa Njamilah Bornguoi said Monday that he could not independently confirm reports of renewed border tension, although he acknowledged receiving information from a security officer that Guinean soldiers stationed across the river had attempted to move toward the Liberian checkpoint.
Commissioner Bornguoi said the Liberian officers resisted the attempted movement, prompting the Guinean soldiers to eventually return to their position.
“Our security officers resisted and said they could not allow them to pass through. The Guinean soldiers remained there for some time before returning to their usual position,” Bornguoi said.
He cautioned that the account was based on preliminary information and that he had not yet spoken directly with the officer responsible for border management.
“That is what I was told, but I have not spoken with the director in charge of border management to confirm it. So, I don’t think there is any tension there as reported by local media,” he said.
Bornguoi, who chairs the District Security Council, said he planned to visit the border to establish the facts surrounding the incident.
“As it stands, I am not hearing anything like that. There is no panic. I am in touch with the township commissioner at the very point there, and there is nothing like that happening,” he said.
“I intend to visit the area tomorrow morning. When I return, I will place a call to you and provide an update on the situation. We will ascertain the facts tomorrow,” Bornguoi added.
Local Authorities Intervene
Meanwhile, local correspondents in Lofa County reported Monday that Liberian immigration officers and Guinean soldiers held talks at the Sorlumba border following Sunday’s encounter.
According to the reports, Guinean soldiers had requested that Liberian immigration officers leave the border area, but the LIS officers refused. The soldiers subsequently returned to their original position.
Local authorities from Foya later traveled to the border and engaged both sides in an effort to clarify the situation and prevent further confrontation.
Sorlumba Township Commissioner Harris Domah said the engagement ended peacefully, with both sides agreeing to maintain calm and preserve the longstanding peaceful relationship between Liberian and Guinean security personnel operating along the border.
Authorities also learned during the talks that the Guinean military had changed its commander at the Sorlumba crossing and deployed a new contingent of soldiers. The new commander was reportedly briefed on the history of cooperation between security personnel on both sides of the border.
Following the talks, the Guinean soldiers returned to their post, while LIS officers remained at the Liberian checkpoint.
Local authorities said the situation remained calm Monday, with both sides agreeing to avoid actions that could trigger further tension along the Liberia-Guinea border.
