-Liberians React to Guinea-Foya Enroachment
By Jerromie S. Walters
SORLUMBA CLAN, LOFA COUNTY — For two days, residents of Sorlumba Clan, Foya District, Lofa County served as Liberia’s first and only line of defense against armed incursions from Guinea, vowing Wednesday to protect their land after repelling a second cross-border raid that left one Liberian wounded.
The confrontation began early Tuesday when Guinean soldiers crossed the Makona River — the natural boundary between the two nations — and marched to a site where a Liberian company, BK Enterprise Inc., had been conducting sand-mining operations. The soldiers seized equipment, halted the work, and claimed the area belonged to Guinea. They raised their flag on Liberian soil.
Local citizens quickly mobilized, confronting the intruders and forcing them to retreat before raising the Liberian flag themselves. The Guinean forces returned early Wednesday. When residents attempted to intervene, soldiers opened fire, striking a Liberian citizen in the thigh. The wounded man was transported to Foya Hospital for treatment.
Hours later, the community regrouped and marched back to the contested area, where they again hoisted the Liberian flag. They vowed to continue defending their territory. “Liberia is for Liberians. Liberia is not for Guineans,” the citizens, especially the youth noted.
As signatories to the African Union Constitutive Act and the ECOWAS Protocol on Non-Aggression, both Liberia and Guinea have committed to respecting territorial integrity and resolving disputes through dialogue rather than force.
Meanwhile, later on Wednesday, the Liberia National Police arrived on the scene and took charge of the matter. Deputy Inspector General of Police for Operations Cllr. J. Nelson Freeman has since appealed for calm, urging youth to remain peaceful. However, since the LNP took control of the border point, many have asked why not the Liberian military.
The Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) is the national military of Liberia, established in its current form in 1956 (originating from a 1908 militia) to defend borders and maintain internal security. Rebuilt as a professional force between 2003 and 2008 following civil wars, it currently acts as a “Force for Good” under the Ministry of National Defense, focusing on peacekeeping and security, with roughly 2,000 personnel as of 2020. Since the deployment of the Liberia National Police (LNP) at the border, many have expressed concerns about why not the army.
In July, Liberia was elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2026–2027 term, marking a historic return to the council after 65 years. The nation secured the seat on June 3, 2025, with 181 votes from 193 member states, and officially assumed the role on January 1, 2026. Some have attributed its restraint to this.
In a statement on Wednesday, Liberia’s leading women’s advocacy organization alarmed over the safety of civilians—particularly women, children, and the elderly—who risk becoming pawns in an escalating diplomatic standoff. The Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) issued an urgent appeal for calm and diplomatic engagement. “Border communities are often the most vulnerable in moments of heightened tension,” said a WONGOSOL statement released Wednesday. “Civilians, particularly women, children, and the elderly, may be forced to flee their homes or face disruptions to their daily lives. They should never bear the consequences of disputes between states.”
