The Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) has called for an investigation into the recent border tensions between Liberia and Guinea, raising concerns that alleged mining activities along the Makona River may have contributed to the crisis.
In a press statement issued on March 17, the opposition party said Liberia’s sovereignty and security must not be compromised by what it described as possible private interests linked to resource extraction in the disputed border area.
The CDC questioned what triggered the sudden tensions, noting that Liberia and Guinea have maintained largely peaceful relations along their border for years.
The party pointed to reports from local communities suggesting that sand mining and other activities along the Makona River may be connected to a development project in Foya, and called on the government to clarify whether any licenses were issued for such operations.
It also urged authorities to investigate reports that Guinean security forces seized Liberian mining equipment during the confrontation.
The CDC said no public official should be allowed to place private interests above national security and called on Joseph Nyuma Boakai to ensure accountability.
The party, however, welcomed ongoing diplomatic efforts by the Mano River Union to ease tensions between the two countries.
Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone recently held talks in Conakry, where their leaders agreed to pursue a peaceful resolution to the dispute.
Despite the diplomatic progress, the CDC said the government must provide clear information on the root cause of the crisis to prevent future incidents.
The border situation has since calmed, but questions remain about the activities that led to the confrontation.
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