Monrovia, Liberia — Calm has returned to Liberia’s northern border with Guinea following a tense standoff that began earlier this week, as both countries move to foster dialogue and prevent further escalation.
Liberia’s Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Brigadier General Davidson Fayiah Forleh, led a small delegation to neighboring Guinea on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in a symbolic gesture aimed at promoting peace, dialogue, and good neighborliness amid rising border tensions.
The visit follows a series of confrontations that reportedly began on March 10, when Guinean soldiers crossed the Makona River into Liberia at the Sorlumba border point in Lofa County and planted a Guinean flag on land claimed by both communities. Liberian youths quickly responded by erecting a pole and hoisting the Liberian flag on the same site, leaving both national flags side by side.
Tensions escalated on Wednesday, March 11, as Liberians observed Decoration Day. A 44-year-old Liberian man, Edward Lebbie, was reportedly shot following a dispute over a parcel of land between local residents and Guinean soldiers. Witnesses said the soldiers fired live rounds after claiming they had been “molested” by Liberian citizens during earlier confrontations, according to Foya District Commissioner Jammena Gbongwel.
Locals told Verity Online News that the Guinean soldiers had also laid wooden planks along the riverside, which residents feared could signal the construction of temporary structures on Liberian soil. “They are claiming 1,000km of Liberia’s land,” one resident said.
In response, Liberia deployed security forces to the area. Deputy Inspector General of Police for Operations, Colonel Nelson Freeman, visited Foya to meet with residents and youth leaders, urging calm and reminding communities that international border disputes must be resolved through diplomatic channels.
The Makona River, a longstanding trade and family link between the two nations, has historically been a peaceful boundary. Both governments now say they are committed to dialogue and have scheduled diplomatic meetings to prevent further conflicts.
Observers say the recent efforts by General Forleh’s delegation to Guinea mark a crucial step toward restoring trust and reaffirming the longstanding friendship between Liberia and its neighbor.
