ITI, Rivercess County – The people of Sinoe and Rivercess Counties have reaffirmed that the 1962 Map which originally demarcated Sinoe and Grand Bassa counties be used as the main instrument to serve the basis to resolve the boundary dispute between the two counties.
The endorsement is contained in a Resolution adopted on Saturday, January 29, in ITI Community at the close of a three-day dialogue organized by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), with technical support from the Liberia Land Authority (LLA) and the Liberia Peacebuilding Office (PBO). The exercise was funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The final dialogue ran from January 28-30, 2022; with, mediation talks on Saturday lasting from early morning to about 8:30PM.
Internal Affairs Minister Varney A. Sirleaf presided over the dialogue, also in his capacity as the convener, assisted by Attorney J. Adams Manobah, Sr., Chairman of the LLA.
A statement issued by the MIA stated that the dialogue consisted of inclusive participation of diverse stakeholders including lawmakers of the two counties, local government officials of the two counties headed by the two County Superintendents Lee Nagbe Chea of Sinoe and J. Bismark Karbiah (Rivercess), traditional chiefs, elders, women, youth, civil society organizations and religious leaders among others.
Inhabitants of the two counties have been engulfed in a longstanding land dispute around the Cestos River. In 1962, then President William V.S. Tubman constituted the National Commission on Territorial Subdivisions of Liberia to demarcate the entire country. The Commission established that, “The natural boundary point “K” and having coordinates Y-652000 meters and X-583,500 meters thence downstream to a point “S” having coordinates Y-632,5000 meters and X-55300 meters thence in a south westerly direction to a point “R” having coordinates Y-587,000 meters and X-522,500 meters.”
Despite the demarcation by the Tubman’s Commission, the conflict have been lingering on. It intensified in 2009, and continues to undermine communal interactions and deepening division among the citizens of the two counties. Three major attempts for its resolution have been made during 1962, 2010 and 2019 respectively, but these were unsuccessful in terms of results to prevent violence, engender cooperation and promote communal interactions.
However, during the January 29, 2022 Resolution, both counties agreed to honor the Tubman’s Commission report, and maintained that the established line of demarcation should not be shifted by anyone in the future or influenced to be shifted by any means.
According to the MIA, the decision reached by both counties on the actual border line were informed by concrete evidence based on relevant documents including Acts, Maps and Global Positioning System (GPS) Coordinates generated by a Technical Team which assessed the disputed areas.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs currently coordinates and leads collective efforts towards achieving national reconciliation through implementation of the Local Government Act of 2018, the Strategic Roadmap for National Healing, Peacebuilding and Reconciliation and the components of the Land Rights Act to boundary Harmonization along the Liberia Land Authority as the Technical Arm for all land matters.
What’s Next?
The nextsteps, according to Minister Sirleaf, include establishing the actual line on the ground by means of survey with technical support from the Liberia Land Authority and members of the Technical Team under the auspices of the Minister Sirleaf.
He said a survey is expected within the next 30 days as of January 30, 2022 which will finally put the boundary dispute to an end.
He said the two counties have agreed that towns and villages identified on the line will be indicated on the map between points from “K” to “S” and from “S” to “R” thereby clearly establishing the boundary between the two counties; and that cornerstones and billboards be erected in line with the GPS coordinates to establish the boundary lines between the two affected counties.
He hailed citizens and officials of the two counties for their willingness to agree to a peaceful settlement; adding that the Weah-led administration is committed to the amicable settlement of all internal conflicts, especially land disputes.
Meanwhile, Representatives of the Sinoe County Legislative Caucus at the ITI Dialogue were Senator J. Milton Teahjay, Senator Augustine S. Chea, Representative Matthew Gee Zarzar of Electoral District #3 and the County’s Legislative Caucus Chairman, Rep. Crayton O. Duncan. For Rivercess County Legislative Caucus members present are Senator Wellington Geevon-Smith, Legislative Caucus Chairperson, Rep. Rosana Schaack of District # 1, and Rep. Byron W. Zahnwea of electoral District # 2.