This piece is intended to give a picturesque view of the situation in YENGA of the Makona basin. Being part of the Government delegation to support the fact finding mission of the Hon Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and other dignitaries, including my colleague MP Hon Tengbeh Con 002. It further highlights and captures the scale of psychological, political, economic and security implication of the Guinean occupation of YENGA.
The Psychosocial effects of the illegal occupation of Yenga by the Guinean forces are stark reminder of the shackles of war and reemergence of the posttraumatic stress disorder suffered by the Kissi People just after the war.
Listening to the testimonies of the Kissi People of the Mokona river basin brings back the memories of war and captures the ugly scenarios and with a teething question: has the war not ended in that part of the country? Because seeing their land being occupied by foreign forces is a reminder that the war has not ended. Unlike other areas in the country, it is felt, the Kissi land which by history and legally belongs to Sierra Leone, is the only land that is left under occupation for reasons we don’t know.
Without recounting history, the Kissi community is the only community that has not enjoyed peace since the 1991 when Foday Sankoh and his RUF rebels attacked the eastern border town. If we are to go with the words of Pa Kabba- THE WAR DON DON. Yet, the Guinean contingent is still occupying YENGA.
Visiting the people of YENGA gives a clear picture of the suffering and psychological torture. Guinean forces watched and every movement of the Kissi people of YENGA. The Kissi people of YENGA are not supposed to be seeing guns of any sort, but because they are under occupation, they live, eat and sleep with guns, and ready to flee at any time.
Is YENGA becoming another Bakasi peninsular that we have to fight for? The government must take proactive steps to resolve the issue.
Reflecting back in the late 80s, Koindu was assumed to be one of the most viable income generating power house of the country. Unfortunately, with the RUF war and the ensuing occupation of YENGA community by the Guinean forces, has undermined the economic activities of the border countries of Ivory Coast, Liberia and Guinean. The economic activities in the Koindu area are dwarfed by the illegal occupation of YENGA and have undermined the confidence of the business community.
With the current state of affairs, no investor and or serious minded business-man would establish a company in Koindu knowing very well that a stone-throw YENGA is under Guinean occupation.
Confidence is eroded. So, establishment of international market is farfetched and farcical. If that farmer cannot go to farm with confidence and free of threat from any security forces, and the proceeds from the market dues are not going to our government coffers, not matter the size of the market, it will not hold.
Government as such, is losing income due to lack of tax and the local economy is in total shambles.
Additionally, there is a threat to National Security with the permanent occupation of YENGA by the Guinean forces. Listening to the locals, they are beginning to think sub nationally. That will not be good for this country. We obviously don’t want another war in this country. Unfortunate, though, the situation of the Kissi People happens to find ourselves in a bit of a quagmire. For the few that do not understand the geography of Yenga and the Kissi people. The Kissi People would have become one of the most powerful tribes in any of the neighboring countries: Liberia, Gunea and Sierra Leone; but for the scramble for and partition of Africa by the Europeans in 1884. The scramble divided this great tribe into three countries in a triangular occupation. That is the more reason why the Kissi man in Sierra Leone would have his kinsman in Liberia and Guinea. We are all the same people, and share common boundaries and cultures.
The EBOLA incursion in Sierra Leone is a case in point. So, precariously as it seems to be, if war was to break out today between Guinea and Sierra Leone, it will further destabilize the Kissi people in Liberia thereby undermining the already depleted strength that we have. To borrow the words of the historian David Thompson: when the Kissi Man Sneezes, the whole of the Mano River Catches Cold. In essence, Kissi People are bastion of security of the Mano River Union, and they must be taken seriously.
Over the years, politics and political parties have shown it ugly heads and the Kissi People of YENGA have been treated with disdain and total disrespect. History shows that since 1884 of the European Scramble for and Partition of Arica and the ensuing boundary delimitation in 1912, YENGA has always belonged to Sierra Leone. History is unwavering on that.
What is frustrating is how politics and our ruling political parties: SLPP and APC have approached the YENGA question. Pa Kabba of blessed memory had a ceremonial handing over YENGA by President Conteh illustrating the fact that, indeed YENGA belonged to Sierra Leone. For 11 years of President Koroma, he maintained the status, and nothing further was done to restore normalcy in that area. Under President Bio, the Guinean forces have erected a permanent structure, training facilities, equipment, national flag and conducting training of their forces in the community. This is indeed a sad state of affairs, and a blatant violation of our territorial sovereignty.
Honestly, if YENGA was part of the North or the South or somewhere nearer to Freetown, the approach would have been different.
Taking the cue from one of the testimonies of the people of YENGA, the Kissi People have voted our President in to office with renewed hope that he would free them from the yoke of oppression and restore their dignity. Yet, instead of the Guinean withdrawing from their bases, they are busy erecting permanent structures in the guise of not having land in Guinea to conduct training. If they don’t have land to train their soldiers, how are we responsible?
The Kissi people are demanding peace, and a total recovery of their land more than ever before.
On the whole, the Guineans must be made to understand in a very stout form that the age of expansionism and empire building is long gone.
