By Tamba James
Yenga, 16th April 2026 – Nearly a year after fleeing their homes due to security threats along the Sierra Leone–Guinea border, residents of Yenga remain displaced, leaving the once vibrant town deserted.
On April 30, 2025, families abandoned their homes following renewed tensions in the disputed border area. Today, Yenga is a ghost town: unfinished buildings lie abandoned, wooden structures have rotted under heavy rains, and some houses are on the verge of collapse.
For a brief moment, life returned when residents were allowed back to bury a respected elder, Pa Fayia Langama. Children climbed fruit trees, women cleaned compounds, and families reconnected with a place they still call home.
Yet, only a handful stayed behind. Among them is Marie James, known locally as Marie Yenga, who remained with her son throughout the crisis. “I thank both governments. I believe this issue will come to an end one day, and my people will return, and we will all live together again,” she said.
Community leaders say the prolonged displacement has devastated livelihoods. Chief Tamba Nyuma lamented: “We miss our homes and our plantations. It has been two years since I worked on my swamp to feed my family and support my children’s education. Our town is now bush.”
The burial ceremony drew representatives from Sierra Leone and Guinea, including the Sierra Leone Police, the Office of National Security, and local authorities. In a rare show of unity, both sides shared a meal and prayed for peace at the gravesite.
As the one-year mark approaches, Yenga’s displaced families continue to hope for a peaceful resolution that will allow them to rebuild their lives and restore the community they once knew.
