Koindukura/Heremakonon – On 3rd November, Sierra Leonean and Guinean Governments inaugurated 2 new Joint border posts (Police and Customs) to strengthen integrated border management and cross-border cooperation along the Sierra Leonean -Guinean Border in Falaba District and Faranah Prefecture.

The construction of both border posts’ infrastructure was supported by the International Organization for Migration (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 ” through funding from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF).

In the presence of Sierra Leone's Minister of Internal Affairs, David Panda-Noah, and the Minister of Territorial Administration & Decentralization of Guinea, Hon. Mory Conde, along with high-ranking officials and representatives of various ministries, UN agencies, and communities, key features of the border posts were presented including how their design facilitates safe and orderly movements of people and goods. During the ceremony, IOM donated police patrol motorcycles and VHF portable radios to enhancing the patrolling capacity of border management stakeholders.

In his statement, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Internal Affairs Hon. David Panda Noah said: “I am with the firm conviction 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.

On his side, Guinea’s Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, 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.

The Head of IOM Sierra Leone a.i Christos Christodoulides said that the intervention has allowed delivering substantive achievements thanks to the joint efforts of WFP, IOM, and the NGO Talking Drums Studio. The initiative is implemented since November 2021 in Falaba and Faranah, on both sides of the border, in close coordination with the line Ministries, Departments and Agencies involved.

“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” Christos stated.

“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” said Ana Fonseca, IOM Guinea Chief of Mission.

Likewise, the inauguration featured theatrical, musical, and cultural performances delivered by community members from Koindukura (Sierra Leone) and Heremakonon (Guinea) illustrating a strong spirit of social cohesion and integration between border communities.

Despite the lack of well-equipped security infrastructures and agents, 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 contribute to facilitating the safe and orderly movement of migrants and their goods.

For more information, please contact Alfred Fornah, Media and Communications Assistant, IOM Sierra Leone ( Email: afornah@iom.int ) or Lucas CHANDELLIER, Media and Communications Officer, OIM Guinea (lchandellier@iom.int ).