Tension remains hovering around the Liberia/ Guinea border in Lofa County as the Guinean soldiers are again reportedly claiming ownership of the Markona River, and other parts of the country. They have hoisted their national flag, an act which clearly signals provocation and intimidation.
This situation obviously brings fresh memory of war reflecting on the Liberian civil wars, which began in 1989, and took away more than two hundred and fifty thousand innocent lives.
Accordingly, fear is reportedly mounting and the citizens are being deprived of the comfort of peace and harmony.
It can be safely predicated that any escalation of the situation could affect regional peace; disrupt cross-border trade and livelihoods;
strain relations between the neighbors.
This is not just a small border misunderstanding; it is a serious and sensitive standoff, involving territorial integrity, natural resource control, and civilian safety.
We urge the two governments to do everything possible to pause the smoke before it turns into blazing fire.
They should do everything diplomatically possible to calm down the situation before it turns into war, especially when some ex-rebel generals are threatening to rise up and defend what they called their motherland.
We urge the Guinean government to cease the act of provocation and intimidation, because when war is provoked to come, even the peace of the king’s crown is equally undermined.
War often begins with human decisions, but its consequences fall heavily on ordinary people, families, children and communities.
War has the characteristic of the smoke that equally affects the nose whenever it hits the eyes.
Let both countries calm the emerging wind of war and pause the associated dust from flying under all roofs.