The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has expressed significant concern regarding the escalating tensions along the borders shared by Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. In a statement released on Friday, the regional bloc urged all involved nations to exercise maximum restraint and commit to resolving their disagreements through peaceful dialogue.

ECOWAS affirmed that it is actively monitoring the situation and has decided to deploy a technical assessment mission. Initially, this mission was tasked with evaluating developments along the disputed Yenga border region, an area between Guinea and Sierra Leone long recognized for its historical territorial disagreements and sensitivity. The Commission noted that growing concerns over this specific border region were a primary driver for the intervention.

Furthermore, recent developments along the Lofa County border, situated between Guinea and Liberia, have introduced additional complexities to the regional security landscape. This necessitated an expansion of the technical assessment mission's geographical scope. The enlarged mission will now conduct a comprehensive evaluation of both existing and potential areas of friction within the broader Mano River Basin, a region historically marked by both cross-border tensions and collaborative efforts among the three neighboring countries.

In addition to deploying the technical mission, the ECOWAS Commission has initiated diplomatic engagements with the affected countries. These efforts aim to gather more information directly from the nations involved and facilitate a crucial easing of tensions in the region. The organization underscored its commitment to fostering mutual respect, dialogue, and peaceful coexistence among its member states for the benefit of citizens across West Africa.

ECOWAS vehemently called upon all countries involved to immediately implement steps to de-escalate the situation. The Commission further urged governments to uphold internationally recognized boundaries, refrain from taking unilateral actions that could jeopardize bilateral relations, and prioritize dialogue facilitated through established ECOWAS diplomatic channels. The regional body reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to collaborating closely with the authorities of the affected countries to promote cooperation and ensure lasting peace and stability throughout the Mano River Basin.