NO TWO COUNTRIES IN WEST AFRICA SHARE SUCH BINDING,DELICATE AND VERY STRONG FAMILIAL AND CULTURAL TIES AS GUINEA AND SIERRA LEONE, SO LET US HOPE PRESIDENTS BIO AND CONDE SOLVE THIS YENGA PROBLEM DIPLOMATICALLT.
No two countries in West Africa such tighter and more binding familial ties like Guinea and Sierra Leone.
Sierra Leone has the same relationship with Liberia.
Fulas, Mandigoes, Susus, Kurankos, Kissies and Yalunkas can cross the borders of both Guinea and Sierra Leone and start living as citizens of either country. Bassas, Krus, Mendes, Golas, Vais can do the same across the Liberian and Sierra Leone borders.
We admire especially the Fulas who by right, actually can choose whichever country they want to claim as their’s , same as the Krus and Bassas of Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Only people ignorant of history fail to know that the Fulas and Madingoes have always been in Sierra Leone since they arrived just like the Creoles, Mendes and Temnes. In the 1800s and early 2000s, Fulas were the third largest ethnic group in Sierra Leone. Because we have such strong family and cultural ties, conflicts between Sierra Leone and our neighboring countries should be discouraged by all concerned.
Though that does not mean our army should continue to be the weakest, we must always choose the diplomatic option when conflicts arise between us and our two neighboring countries.
War should never be the option.
It is however a sad fact that crackpot and deranged politicians do drag countries into conflicts they do not want. And this is what Alpha Conde has just done by allowing his soldiers to retake the disputed border territory of Yenga , though he too can point to the fact that Sierra Leoneans have no business interfering in their recent presidential elections. Conde did complain against gross interference into the domestic affairs of his country. But his complaint was not heeded.
However, Sierra Leone and Guinea can resolve their differences. Let us all therefore hope that the issue is soon resolved—DIPLOMATICALLY.
