By Idrissa Salaam Conteh
The Guinean Aggression on Yenga
The reported aggression of neighbouring Guinea on Yenga in Kailahun district in eastern Sierra Leone is a blatant violation of Sierra Leone’s territorial integrity, and should be condemned by all Sierra Leoneans irrespective of our stone age tribal and partisan divisions.
In effect, Sierra Leone is the weakest of the Mano River Union States which both Liberia and Guinea capitalise on to bully the country. Liberia, under the leadership of Charles Taylor, took advantage of the fragility of Sierra Leone and waged an unprovoked war that claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people in cold blood.
Liberia was never asked to pay reparations to Sierra Leone for the massive destructions it caused in the country.
Guinea has long eyed Yenga which it occupied for over ten years, and we had to kneel down to implore them to see reason to retreat. Now they are back in full force.
Guinea has something up its sleeves. It had accused Sierra Leone of supporting Sellou Dallan Diallo during the electoral campaigns, an accusation Sierra Leone denied.
Now, Guinea wants to punish Sierra Leone by unleashing an aggression through Yenga. The Government of Sierra Leone has an obligation to step up security to ensure our territorial sovereignty.
North Korea was repeatedly invaded by different countries before and during World War II, and decided to take their security to another level. Today, nobody can dare provoke North Korea. In fact, when North Korea sneezes, South Korea, Japan and USA all catch cold together.
Unfortunately, we Sierra Leoneans are too corrupt and too shallow minded to strengthen our security with modern defence systems. The Guineans know that our marine and air force exist only on paper. They know the capacity of our infantry which they saw in action throughout the decade long civil war.
This is the tragic story of Sierra Leone where the former Army Chief of Defence staff, Lt. Gen. SO Williams was shot dead a day after testifying in parliament about the usurpation of the military budget by politicians.
This is the level of destruction caused by corruption to Sierra Leone that cannot defend itself from Guinean and Liberian attacks.
What we must not forget is that, the Guinean aggressors will not distinguish between APC and SLPP supporters. They will not differentiate between Mendeline and Temneline. If the situation is allowed to unfold, it will destabilise the whole country. This was how the rebel war started in Bomaru on 21 March 1991 and later spread across the country.
The partisan and tribal animosity being disseminated will give further strength to the enemy. We can neither run to Guinea nor to Liberia.
