Bomi County Senator Edwin M. Snowe
By Pewu Y. Sumo
Monrovia, Liberia: — Bomi County Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe Jr. has expressed strong support for the Government of Liberia’s diplomatic maneuvers aimed at de-escalating tensions along the shared border with the Republic of Guinea, but he warns that a lack of transparency regarding the situation is fueling public anxiety.
Speaking today during an appearance on The OK Conversation with Julius Jeh on OK FM 99.5, Senator Snowe, who chairs the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, described the government’s approach as “rightfully engaging through diplomacy.” He emphasized that prioritizing dialogue over confrontation is essential for maintaining the fragile stability of the Mano River Union (MRU) region.
“There is no need for Liberia to go into conflict with Guinea or any of its neighbors,” Sen. Snowe cautioned.
He noted that Guinea, as one of Liberia’s neighbors in the Mano River Union, provided assistance during Liberia’s civil conflict through the presence of its military personnel.
Support for “Talk-Talk” Diplomacy
Addressing the presence of Guinean military personnel in disputed areas, Snowe argued that a measured response is the most effective way to safeguard national sovereignty without sparking an armed conflict.
“The occupation [by] Guinean troops on our land—there are lots of ways we can solve it,” Snowe noted. “I think the government has been handling it rightfully. ECOWAS has been involved; they were part of the first MRU meeting, and there are plans for a second where Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara is expected to chair.”
The Senator, who also holds a high-ranking position in the ECOWAS Parliament, reiterated a long-standing regional sentiment: “Talk-talk is better than war-war.” He stated that further diplomatic discussions are expected to take place during an ECOWAS meeting slated for July of this year in Sierra Leone, where Guinean President Mamady Doumbouya will hold talks with his Liberian counterpart regarding the border issue.
The “But”: Warnings Over Media Restrictions
Despite his praise for the executive’s diplomatic strategy, the Bomi lawmaker raised a red flag concerning the government’s management of information. He criticized recent actions that restricted media access to the border regions, suggesting that keeping the public in the dark is counterproductive.
“The government and state actors should stop scaring citizens from talking. When you talk, then you are in trouble,” Snowe blasted, while praising a recent statement from the President of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) regarding the government’s alleged suppression of the press.
“When you suppress your citizens from talking, there will be a time when they will talk; so when they talk, you need to listen,” the Bomi lawmaker warned. “Right now, to talk about the Guinean border is like a taboo.”
“If I talk about the Guinea border issue now, tomorrow Facebook will be on fire,” Snowe said, warning that such suppression is not the solution because the citizens need to be heard.
Context of the Dispute
The border friction, particularly centered around the Sorlumba area in Lofa County, has seen a heightened security presence from both nations over the last month. While the Ministry of Information has repeatedly urged calm and advised citizens to rely solely on “official government sources,” Snowe’s comments reflect a growing call for a more open communication strategy as the MRU continues its mediation efforts.
Though the government has clarified that the blockage of media coverage of the area is intended to keep the situation under control as de-escalation efforts continue, however, critics warned that this move will continue to leave citizens in fear and uncertainty.
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