The Sierra Leone Government of President Ernest Bai Koroma has issued an official government statement thanking his counterpart in Guinea, H.E. President Alpha Conde for last week’s removal of Guinean troops from Yenga.

The release which was issued by the Office of the Government Spokesman at the Ministry of Information and Communications, says, "The Government is pleased to inform the public that the demilitarisation of Yenga has taken place in line with the Joint Declaration of July 27th 2012".

The Government Statement further proceeds to congratulate the President of Guinea, Professor Alpha Conde for his "reassurance of working closely with his Sierra Leonean counterpart, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, to expeditiously settle the Yenga issue through diplomatic means".

The Government further stated its continued commitment to regional treaties and protocols that call for a conducive relationship in order to maintain peace, stability and security within the region.

It expressed a desire to continue the conclusion of technicalities that will lead to what it called as "the final and peaceful resolution of the Yenga border issue".

Meanwhile, reports from our correspondents in the area indicates that following the removal of the Guinean military garrison from both sides of the river and removal of all the numerous Guinean military checkpoints, Sierra Leonean owners of farmlands in the area have already started to work unhindered on redeveloping their farms and forests in the waterfront area.

Friends of Ernest Bai Koroma, a local Kailahun group headed by Sahr Mokuwah informs that their group, as well as hundreds of indigenes from Koindu town and the surroundings, would be holding Muslim prayers to mark the end of the month of Fasting and the Feast of Ramadan “right inside Yenga”.

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