By: Ernest Kpehe Moibah| Bomi County Correspondent
Sackie Town, Bomi County -August 7, 2025-A long running land dispute between Bomi and Gbarpolu Counties is intensifying, with local leaders and residents warning of potential violent clashes if the Liberian government fails to step in with a decisive resolution.
The latest alarm was raised by Chief Aaron Johnson, town chief of Sackie Town, who said continuous land encroachment from neighboring Gbarpolu has left his community feeling abandoned and defenseless.
“For too long we have been complaining about this constant forest land encroachment,” Chief Johnson lamented. “It has been over three years since the government instructed all parties to stay away from the disputed land, yet violations continue without consequences.”
Supporting these concerns, Upper Togay Land Administrator Mr. William Sando described the situation as “dangerously deteriorating”, with farmers losing land and properties, while reports to authorities have produced no tangible interventions.
“This is a crisis in the making,” Sando warned. “If nothing is done now, it could spark serious conflict between the two counties. Our people cannot continue losing their livelihoods while government institutions remain silent.”
Past Efforts and Stalled Resolutions
It can be recalled that, despite numerous meetings and dialogues facilitated by the Western Region Legislative Caucus, the Ministries of Justice and Internal Affairs, the Liberian Land Authority, and county authorities, no conclusive agreement or national decision has been made.
This failure to reach a binding resolution has left communities on both sides vulnerable to renewed tensions and potential violence.
Local observers warn that if swift, high level action is not taken by the Ministry of Internal Affairs or Liberia’s Land Authority, the dispute may spiral out of control.
Many are now calling for a neutral, fact based land survey and adjudication process, backed by national security and legal institutions, to restore calm and clarity on the contentious boundary lines.
Peace Building Office Calls for Calm
Amid rising tensions, the Liberia Peace Building Office has issued a firm call for restraint and renewed dialogue. Operating under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the office urged both counties to honor the Senjeh District Peace Accord, a resolution reached several years ago and documented in the Inter-Ministerial Committee’s report on the boundary conflict.
In a strong and passionate appeal, Moses Saah, Regional Hub Coordinator of the Peace Building Office in western Liberia, emphasized the need for non-violence and constructive engagement.
“We must not allow this dispute to divide our people or ignite violence,” Saah said. “The Senjeh Peace Accord and the committee’s report remain guiding documents. What is needed now is commitment from all stakeholders and full implementation of boundary demarcation to restore peace.”
Disputed Areas and Historical Context
The contested territory, stretching across Sackie Town, Yomo Town, Kanio Hill, and Deantowah, has been a flashpoint of conflict for several years. While fact finding missions and stakeholder dialogues have been conducted, no final demarcation ruling has been publicly implemented, creating a vacuum that fuels renewed contestation.
Local authorities say the absence of clear boundary markers and inconsistent government presence in the region has emboldened encroachments, heightening fears of violent confrontations.
Authorities in Gbarpolu Decline Comment
When contacted by our reporter, Gbarma District Commissioner Hon. Musa Kamara and other Gbarpolu officials declined to comment on the matter, citing reasons best known to them.
Hope Amid Uncertainty
Despite growing anxiety, residents of Bomi County’s border communities remain hopeful that their calls for government action will not go unheard. Community leaders are urging lawmakers, the Liberian Land Authority, and Peace building institutions to act urgently and decisively, preventing the situation from escalating into deadly clashes.
“We only seek justice and clarity,” Chief Johnson reiterated. “Let the government come, survey the land, and draw the boundaries so our children can live in peace.”
As the dispute enters yet another tense phase, all eyes are now on Monrovia, where national authorities face growing pressure to deliver a fair, peaceful, and lasting resolution to one of western Liberia’s most persistent land conflicts.
Investigation continues ……….
