SubSaharan Africa 425
dispersing National Patriotic Front of Liberia soldiers from the NPFL controlled
border. Ivory Coast believed the actions were a deliberate strike on Ivorian soil, but
Nigeria’s apology soothed tensions. Then, on May 28, Nigerian air forces bombed
a bridge at the Liberian-Ivorian border, and this time Ivorian forces responded with
antiaircraft missiles.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from May 28, 1993. Fatalities changed from
Missing.
438 Guinea/450 Liberia
MID#4302
Dispute Number: 4302
Date(s): August 13, 1999 to September 17, 1999
Participants: 438 Guinea/450 Liberia
Outcome (and Settlement): Compromise (Negotiated)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Liberian rebels used Guinea as a base for their attacks inside Liberia. Libe-
ria protested to the UN Security Council, but the Guinean foreign minister, Zainoul
Abidine Sanoussy, dismissed the charge as baseless. On August 11, 1999, gunmen
seized 80 aid workers, including six foreigners, in Monrovia, and released them two
days later in Guinea. Rebel forces belonging to the Joint Forces for the Liberation of
Liberia also crossed from Guinea and seized several northern towns that same day.
Liberian troops closed the border on August 12, and Guinea placed its troops on alert
the next day. By August 17, the Liberian government claimed control of its northern
territories once again. Later that month Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) ministers agreed to establish a border commission to address the border
issues.
In early September Guinea accused Liberian forces of attacking three Guinean
villages, but on September 16, ECOWAS hosted a Heads of State and Government
meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, to discuss the issue. The next day ECOWAS released a
communique that the presidents of the disputants had agreed to a nonaggression pact
and called for a joint security commission and the exchange of security information.
On September 27, ECOWAS chair Koffigoh announced a commission that comprised
Liberia, Guinea, and ECOWAS to deal with security issues between the disputants.
MID#4257
Dispute Number: 4257
Date(s): July 10, 2000 to May 25, 2001
Participants: 450 Liberia/438 Guinea
Outcome (and Settlement): Compromise (Negotiated)
Fatalities: 1–25 deaths
Narrative: Both Guinea and Liberia sought to stop dissident group attacks from
the other’s territory. On July 10, 2000, Liberians United for Reconciliation and