NATIONAL NEWS
MONROVIA – Former Ambassador-at-Large for Special Duties, Sheakh Mustapha Kouyateh, has questioned the circumstances surrounding the removal of Liberian flags at the Solomba border, alleging that the action was carried out by Liberia’s Joint Security Commander on instructions from the Commissioner.
By: Kabina S. Kabah – kabinaskabah98@gmail.com
Kouyateh made the allegation Thursday while appearing as a guest on OK Conversation, where he provided a fresh account of Liberia’s recent border engagement with Guinea.
According to the former ambassador, the flags had remained near the Makona River for between 40 and 50 years before they were removed and relocated by Liberian Joint Security authorities.
Kouyateh said he later sought clarification from Minister of Local Government Francis Nyumalin on whether he had authorized the Commissioner to order the relocation of the flags. However, he claimed the minister did not provide a clear explanation.
The former diplomat said the issue became particularly contentious when the Liberian delegation crossed into Guinea for discussions with the Guinean Minister of Administration and Territorial Affairs.
He recalled that Guinean authorities questioned Liberia’s decision to move the flags from their longstanding location.
“Before any discussion, they told us to first take the Liberian flag from near the Makona River and carry it back to where it had been for over 40 to 50 years,” Kouyateh said.
According to Kouyateh, the Guinean minister also questioned why successive Liberian administrations had allowed the flag to remain near the disputed area for decades if its presence there was considered problematic.
‘I Refused to Sign the Report’
In another significant revelation, Kouyateh said he refused to sign the report prepared following the delegation’s visit because he believed it did not accurately reflect what transpired during the mission.
He said the report did not contain the “real information” from the trip, raising questions about the accuracy and completeness of the official account of the border engagement.
The former ambassador also disclosed that the Liberian delegation raised the issue of equipment reportedly seized by Guinean authorities.
Kouyateh said Minister Nyumalin requested that the equipment be returned to Liberia.
However, according to Kouyateh, the Guinean minister said Guinea’s geological authorities would first examine the equipment to determine whether it was being used for mining activities.
He said Guinean authorities indicated that if the equipment was found to be intended for mining, it would not be released, while a different decision could be made depending on the outcome of the examination.
Kouyateh’s account has placed renewed scrutiny on the Solomba border dispute, particularly the removal of the Liberian flags, the authority behind their relocation, the handling of the delegation’s report, and the seizure of equipment by Guinean authorities.
His allegations also raise questions about who authorized the relocation of the flags and whether the decision was properly communicated to members of the Liberian delegation before the border engagement.
The former ambassador’s account adds another layer to the ongoing Solomba border controversy and is likely to fuel further discussion over Liberia’s handling of the border dispute and its engagement with Guinean authorities.
