New joint border posts inaugurated along Sierra Leone- Guinea border.

With funding from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund, two new Joint border posts were on 3rd November, inaugurated by Sierra Leone’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. David Panda-Noah, and the Minister of Territorial Administration & Decentralization of Guinea, Hon. Mory Conde in Falaba District and Faranah Prefecture along the Sierra Leonean -Guinean Border.

Witnessing the inauguration of the posts meant to strengthen integrated border management and cross-border cooperation along the border were the Head of IOM Sierra Leone a.i  Christos Christodoulides, his Guinean counterpart, Ana Fonseca, other UN officials, community leaders and representatives of the various ministries from both countries.

In his statement, Minister Panda- Noah said he was convinced that with the implementation of this project, communities in the Falaba District and the Faranah Prefecture will benefit from the improved cross-border regulations to promote peaceful co-existence between cattle herders and crop farmers.

“Bringing people together is a great privilege, and the peacebuilding cross-border posts are important to promote and resolve early warning signs of conflicts in the communities,” the Minister added.

Hon. Mory Conde said: “We had identified some conflict issues between farmers and herders in this locality. In addition, in these newly built posts, the transhumance committees will work with authorities and customs officers to reduce the risk of conflict.” 

He further stressed that the objective of this project is to strengthen the mechanisms for dialogue between Guinea and Sierra Leone and to promote cross-border cooperation.

Due to the joint efforts of WFP, IOM, and the NGO- Talking Drums Studio, the IOM Sierra Leone a.i, Christos Christodoulides said that the intervention has made it possible for substantive achievements to be delivered.

“We look forward to supporting the government efforts to consolidate and expand integrated border management in Sierra Leone, an approach bringing border management stakeholders together to better deliver,” he stated.

IOM Guinea Chief of Mission Ana Fonseca said, “With the construction of these beautiful infrastructures, we have contributed to the creation of a safe space for the exchange of security between the communities and the border security agents. And this enhances effective collaboration between these border communities.”

The construction of both border posts’ infrastructure was supported by IOM as part of the project “Building Cross-Border Peace and Strengthening Sustainable Livelihoods of Cattle Herders and Crop Farmers in Sierra Leone and Guinea”.

Key features of the border posts were presented during the inauguration, including how their design facilitates safe and orderly movements of people and goods. IOM also used the ceremony to donate police patrol motorcycles and VHF portable radios to enhance the patrolling capacity of border management stakeholders.

Koindukura and Heremakonon are hubs where cross-border traders from Sierra Leone and Guinea converge to conduct business on special market days. The newly built border posts will significantly facilitate the safe and orderly movement of migrants and their goods.