ECHOES OF YOUTH VOICES AND CONCERNS FROM THE MANO RIVER BORDER ZONES EDITION 2 FEB. 2008 Public Disclosure Authorized

THEME: 45000 Border Economic Challenges Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized

L E D O L L A R L I B É R I E N P É N È T R E P R O F O N D É M E N T E N S I E R R A L E O N E THEME OF EDITION: pages 19-20 Border Economic Challenges Public Disclosure Authorized

Cover Story LIBERIAN DOLLAR PENETRATES DEEP INTO SIERRA LEONE Pages 1-3 E D I T O R I A L N O T E É D I T O R I A L Ceci est la seconde de quatre éditions du This is the second of four editions of the magasin FRONTIERES publié en tant qu'élément de BORDERLINES magazine published as part of l'INITIATIVE RÉGIONALE de la JEUNESSE DES FONDS the REGIONAL YOUTH INITIATIVE OF THE de SOCIÉTÉ CIVILS de la BANQUE MONDIALE. Il est WORLD BANK CIVIL SOCIETY FUND (CSF). It is mis en application par Pampana Communications implemented by Pampana Communications avec l'appui de la banque mondiale, du PNUD et du with the support of the World Bank, the UNDP secrétariat de l’union du fleuve Mano. and the Mano River Union Secretariat. Le magasin est entre d'autres activités de l'INITIATIVE RÉGIONALE de la JEUNESSE prévue pour The Magazine is among other activities dessiner l'attention des gouvernements aux voix of the REGIONAL YOUTH INITIATIVE intended saillantes, les vues et les soucis de la jeunesse to draw the attention of policy makers to the vulnérable résidant le long des volatiles salient voices, views and concerns of vulnerable communautés d’après-guerre dans la frontière du youth residing along the volatile post-conflict fleuve Mano. Ces communautés avaient servi comme Mano River border communities which had de zones et de points d'inflammabilité intensifs served as intensive conflict zones and pendant la guerre et après la paix dans les trois pays flashpoints during the war and peace keeping qui consister l’union du fleuve Mano : la Guinée, de la periods in the three Mano River Union Sierra Leone et du Libéria. countries of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Le thème pour cette édition est des DÉFIS ÉCONOMIQUES de FRONTIÈRE `', qui parle des grands The theme for this edition ‘BORDER défis économiques devant la jeunesse qui résident le ECONOMIC CHALLENGES’ has been chosen long du volatil communautés d’après-guerre de based on the strong consideration that youths l’union du fleuve Mano qui avaient servi de zones et in the three countries in general and those de points d'inflammabilité intensifs de conflit pendant along the borders in particular, have been the les périodes de guerre et de maintien de la paix dans largest single group who have been most les trois pays qui constituent l’union du fleuve Mano : associated with conflict and peace in the Mano la Guinée, la Sierra Leone et le Libéria. River Union sub-region and that their economic Pendant la période de conflit de 14 ans dans have been at the bottom of the conflict. la sous région, la jeunesse constituée plus de 90% des forces de combat et ont été la plupart du temps During the 14-year conflict period in the réutilisé dans les batailles frontalières à travers les sub-region, the youth constituted over 90% of trois pays. Même avant la guerre, la jeunesse a été the fighting forces and were mostly recycled in confrontée aux problèmes étendus qui ont gêné leur cross-border battles across the three countries. participation individuelle et collective au Even before the war, the youth were faced with gouvernement et au développement. Souvent wide ranging problems that hindered their manquant de l'information et des opportunités, les individual and collective participation in jeunesses sont devenues les cibles faciles pour le governance and development. With the end of recrutement dans la guerre. A la fin de la guerre, il y a the war, there have been minimal efforts to eu des efforts minimaux d'approcher la crise de la approach the youth crisis in the three countries jeunesse dans les trois pays d'une position from a regional vantage point. Most youth avantageuse régionale. La plupart des activités qui support activities in the sub-region have been soutiennent la jeunesse dans la sous région ont été confined to the individual countries. confinées aux pays individus. À cet égard, le magasin FRONTIERES est parmi In this regard, the BORDERLINES les efforts rares dans la sous région du fleuve Mano magazine is among the rare efforts in the Mano visée a adresser des soucis et le bien-être de la River sub-region aimed at addressing youth jeunesse en regardant au delà des frontières concerns and welfare by looking beyond nationales pour agir dans le cadre plus large de national frontiers to act within the broader l'union du fleuve Mano. framework of the Mano River Union.

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Liberian Dollar Penetrates Deep into Sierra Leone THERE ARE SALIENT ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CAUSES OF THE GROWING LIBERIAN CURRENCY STRENGTH ACROSS THE BORDER INTO SIERRA LEONE. SIDIE SHERIFF REPORTS.

There are several notable international border crossing points in the Mano River Basin. You have the tri- border zone where Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone share a common boundary around the important trading towns of Koindu, Foya and Nongowa. You have the famous Voinjama- Nzerekore axis between Liberia and Guinea. You have the Gbalamuya-Pamlap BORDER YOUTHS TRADING IN LIBERIAN DOLLARS road linking Conakry and Freetown via Forecariah in This has been largely people rightly measure Guinea and Kambia in Sierra attributed to the superior “proximity” in terms of Leone, among many others. road advantage of Liberia travel time, not distance. Outstandingly, there over Sierra Leone which Even though they seem to is the renowned Babangida makes the proximity of be ‘distance-closer’ to their Highway linking Monrovia to Monrovia to the Sierra provincial headquarters, Sierra Leone’s eastern and Leonean Chiefdoms of they consider it much easier southern capitals of Kenema Makpele and Sorogbeima and faster to transact and Bo respectively through more apparent than the business with Monrovia than the famous Mano River ‘whole-day’ journey it takes with Kenema or Bo or Border Bridge. the people of these Freetown in their own chiefdoms to travel to Bo or country. “Due to the good motor road, we Kenema in their country. “Due to the good can easily reach Monrovia to sell “It would take a 504 motor road, we can easily our goods and return with highly Peugeot passenger car an and speedily reach Monrovia needed items. So our demand for average of 2 hours to travel to sell our goods and return through an 84-mile distance home with highly needed the Liberian dollar is so high and along the well-paved and items we buy from there. So frequent that we have come to broad Babangida highway our demand for the Liberian adopt it as our currency” from Monrovia to the Mano dollar is so high and The village of Bo is River Border Bridge. It would frequent that we have on the Liberia side of the take the same Peugeot car compellingly come to adopt Bridge and Jendema on the an average of 5.5 hours to it as our currency”, says Sierra Leone side. It is from cover an 80-mile journey Jebbeh Gray who trades in here that the Liberian dollar from the Sierra Leone city of foodstuffs and toiletries has been observed to have Kenema to the same between Zimmi and penetrated deep into Sierra Bridge”, says Hannafi Monrovia, “When people Leone, almost replacing the Massaquoi, a castor bean from our country’s capital, Sierra Leone legal tender, farmer and businessman in Freetown, come to visit us, “Leone”, as medium of Fairo, Sorogbeima Chiefdom they are surprised to hear exchange in economic in Sierra Leone. transactions. Hannafi and his Continued on page 2

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B O R D E R L I N E S E D I T I O N 2 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 8 our banana, mango and Bridge was never done up to lands ranging from Bomi orange sellers, for example, the start of the war in March Hills and Robertsport in quote prices in Liberian 1991. Liberia to Pujehun and currency”, Gray continues. “The former government Kailahun in Sierra Leone. “So it has turned out of Sierra Leone was said to These explain why to be. Our learned people in have had ample time to the people of Makpele and the world of economics say: accomplish its own part of Sorogbeima often surprise let the market forces dictate the job before the war but non-Mende speaking visitors the status quo”, laments was neither seen to have from Freetown by not only Hannafi, “and no force of done much to forge ahead quoting prices in Liberian arms can change this. The with the project nor did it dollars, but also conversing only magic that can change communicate well the with them teasingly in this is for the government in reasons for its delay. Hence Liberian English instead of Freetown to reactivate the there was widespread Krio. Outwardly, their pre-war Bandajuma Road disaffection and feeling of languages - Gola and Vai – Project”. disappointment in south- have been replaced by Before war started eastern Sierra Leone” says Mende, the largest in the two countries in early indigenous provincial ethnic 1990s, the governments of group in Sierra Leone. But former President Samuel “When people from our inwardly they have never Doe of Liberia and President country’s capital, Freetown, forgotten their linguistic Joseph Momoh of Sierra come to visit us, they are roots and identities. Leone started the surprised to hear our There are important implementation of what was banana, mango and orange ramifications of this to be known “the Mano sellers, for example, quote development for the River Union Highway”. The prices in Liberian currency” governments of Sierra Leone two governments meant to and Liberia. For Liberia it can construct a first class be a matter of cultural Sheikh Kuyateh, an indigene highway between the reunion and an opportunity of Zimmi now based in Bo. Liberian capital, Monrovia, for strengthened ties with But this is just partly and Sierra Leone’s second Sierra Leone, explaining why the reason for the economic city and southern capital, President Ellen Johnson and social transformation Bo. Liberia was to do its Sirleaf, being herself now emerging and evident stretch from Monrovia to connected to the Gola in communities extending the Mano River Border ethnic group, had to from the Border Bridge into Bridge; and Sierra Leone recently grant Liberian Sierra Leone. The wave of from its southern city of Bo citizenship to thousands of Liberianization in Makpele to the same Bridge. Sierra Leonean refugees in and Sorogbeima chiefdoms Liberia speedily and Liberia, mostly hailing from in Sierra Leone is not due to efficiently completed its Sorogbeima and Makpele. currency conquest alone. own part of the project For Sierra Leone, it is Sorogbeima and which became known as the different, noting that even Makpele also have a very ‘Babangida Highway’ before before the war, the people strong ethnic and religious war started in that country of Sorogbeima and Makpele affinity to the Vai and Gola towards the end of 1989. largely regarded themselves speaking people in Liberia. Sierra Leone went less than as a marginalized people by In fact, Sorogbeima is halfway through the project the government in Freetown originally Vai and Makpele is and the result was the ‘Bo- and downtrodden by the originally Gola. There is also Bandajuma Highway’. The political event surrounding a deep culture of marabou remainder road from the cold-blooded murder in Islam permeating Vai-Gola Bandajuma to the border Continued on page 3

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Zimmi in 1981 of their son- Sierra Leone. The political “This is half the of-the-soil, Kemokai, which stage has played host and story. In the Sierra Leone led to the Dorkpowosu said goodbye to many context state officials hardly Rebellion followed by what players of war and politics. trust civil society. A lot of was considered as the The international studies point at mutual “repressive response by the environment under which suspicion between citizens then Siaka Stevens regime”. impunity and dictatorships (especially youth) and the Up to the onset of had reigned through the 70s state”. The report further the war in Sierra Leone, a and 80s is no longer the reveals that “the recent sense of political apathy and same. No sensible regime general presidential and tendencies of nonchalant can impose itself and expect parliamentary elections attitudes and latent revolt subservience anymore. It is reveal a sharp ethno- were rife in Sorogbeima and high time that emerging regional divide along south- Makpele. governments now thought east and north-western Former Member of of legitimizing themselves by lines. This divide which has Parliament, representing the eliciting popular support serious implications for two chiefdoms, Mannah from the grassroots rather national cohesion and Kpaka, was said to have than showing power and development is now seen as been the only opposition prowess to subdue people. the new challenge for the politician during the Stevens All recent sub- new government”. regime who refused to join regional peace initiatives in In this regard, the the All Peoples Congress West Africa have pointed to government in Freetown is (APC) one-party system and the need for newly elected to revisit its priorities and who continued to enjoy the governments in conflict consider strongly the confidence of his prone countries to pursue reactivation, acceleration constituency throughout his national legitimization, not and the completion of the political career. ethnic, regional and partisan Mano River Union highway, Interestingly, former appeasement. The country in addition to continuing President Siaka Stevens report on Sierra Leone with the Kenema-Koindu himself made strong released by the Seventh road construction project maternal lineage claims to African Governance Forum initiated by the previous the historic coastal town of held in Ouagadougou from government which now Sulima in Sorogbeima 24th through 26th October seems to be underway. chiefdom and was said to 2007, for example, These would not have often referred to emphasizes that trust and only substantially restore Mannah Kpaka as his state legitimacy in Sierra trust for government in maternal uncle. But the Leone can be achieved by Pujehun and Kailahun claims by Stevens were “creating public and national Districts where the first guns never translated into action ownership of government. If were fired and last by rewarding his maternal the Sierra Leone State has to combatants disarmed, but homeland with good roads play an effective role in would also go a long way in as his then counterpart, poverty reduction and ameliorating the intensive Samuel Doe, did to Grand development, it must enjoy disaffection now developing Gedeh County in Liberia. full legitimacy and trust at in these two districts for In spite of their whatever level and in what their people widely common ancestral links as whatever sector”. The perceive as “bearing the claimed, Siaka Stevens and report claims that the biggest brunt of an undue Mannah Kpaka were always tendency to view public disenfranchisement action” odd political bedfellows trust in terms of the way in the aftermath of the throughout their careers. private or civil society September 2007 presidential Now history has agencies trust government run-off elections. END. come to pass. Regimes have or public sector agencies in changed in both Liberia and general is not sufficient.

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L E A R N I N G C E N T E R F A C T S A B O U T C U R R E N C Y A N D F O R E I G N E X C H A N G E

Foreign exchange is the process of trading the currency of one country for the currency of another. This process is necessary for international trade to take place in a world of different currencies. The value of one currency versus another is determined by the international exchange rate and, in most cases, is subject to fluctuations based on open trading of currency in foreign exchange markets. For as long as trade between countries with different currencies has taken place, foreign exchange has been in existence. According to Julian Walmsley, author of The Foreign Exchange and Money Markets Guide, although foreign exchange has existed since before biblical times, a formal global market for foreign exchange did not develop until the 1800s with cable transfers taking place between London and New York. Historically, governments attempted to set exchange rates themselves to improve a country's trade position. If a country set its exchange rate low relative to others, it could improve the country's trade position by making its exports more affordable and imports from other countries less affordable. Such policies led to trade wars as countries struggled to improve their trade positions. Since the early 1970s, however, most major currencies have been allowed to "float," which means allowing exchange rates to be determined by supply and demand on the currency markets. Most countries still fine tune exchange rates by keeping a reserve of gold or foreign currencies, known as foreign exchange reserves, which they buy and sell to stabilize their own currency when necessary. The foreign exchange markets are decentralized and consist of thousands of businesses and governments throughout the world that buy and sell currency. Governments have a special interest in foreign exchange because an unstable or rapidly falling price for their currency can create economic disruption. Therefore, governments, or their central banks, intervene in foreign exchange through open market activities, namely, buying or selling of currencies to influence the exchange rate for their own. Other common players in foreign exchange markets include portfolio managers, foreign currency brokers, and commercial banks. Some of these organizations deal in currencies as an investment. Others sell the currency to their own customers, such as multinational corporations, importers, and exporters, who need to convert currency to conduct their businesses. The largest users of the foreign exchange market are commercial banks, which serve as intermediaries between currency buyers and sellers. Corporations and financial institutions also trade currencies, primarily to safeguard their foreign currency-denominated assets and liabilities against adverse rate movement. Banks and fund managers trade currencies to profit from rate movements. Individuals also are subject to fluctuating exchange rates, most commonly when a traveler exchanges his/her native currency for a foreign one before embarking on a business trip or vacation. The foreign exchange market determines exchange rates. When demand for the currency of one country goes up in relation to that of another, the first currency is said to be more valuable (or stronger) in terms of the second currency. Some of the factors that increase demand for a country's currency are an increase in exports (more currency is needed to pay for these exports), an increase in interest rates (the currency now earns more for the holder), and anything that improves political stability (the risk of holding that currency has decreased). Currency markets can also be influenced by indirect indicators of economic strength or even by rumors or anecdotal information.

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B O R D E R L I N E S E D I T I O N 2 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 8 Bad Roads threaten Border Farmers and Traders BESIDES ITS ADVERSE IMPACT ON CURRENCY STRENGTH, BAD ROADS CAN ALSO SUBTRACT VALUE FROM FARMING AND AGRO-TRADING PROSPECTS. THIS IS A FACT OF LIFE IN THE TRI- BORDER AXIS OF THE MANY FRONTIERS IN MANO RIVER UNION. SHEIKH BAWOH REPORTS.

ON THE MUDDY ROAD TO THE BORDER DISTRICT OF KAILHAHUN FROM KENEMA

Guinea, Sierra Leone and Guinea. This area’s terrible condition of the roads Liberia are no exceptions to motor road network and prevents us from reaching the under development infrastructure take a severe the market on time and suffered in rural economic toll on local making the profits we communities in Sub Saharan residents who are envisage”. Africa (SSA) as a result of predominantly cross border Like Sarah, Sallieu hindrance to transportation petty traders and rural Jalloh, a garden farmer in of people and goods posed farmers. Nongowa, says he is by poor road network and On the Guinean side frustrated not by the lack of infrastructure. The “current of the border, the market, but by the appalling rural travel and transport”, Nzerekore-Massanta Road is stretch of road he has to according to the World reportedly in a far better cover each day to reach the Bank, “are dominated by shape - with almost no market. Most border head loading and walking, potholes - than the residents in Guinea are largely by women, to satisfy Nongowa-Nzerekore road farmers like their Sierra the daily travel and goods which is in a worse state Leonean and Liberian movement needs of rural similar to the roads across counterparts. But the populations in Sub Sahara the border in Sierra Leone Guinean farmers would Africa” (Source: and Liberia. Sarah Mansaray, stand to reap more benefits Intermediate Means of a Guinean based in if the road conditions along Transport in SSA, World Nongowa who sells fruits the border were to improve Bank Technical Paper No and vegetables in the border since Guinea deals more in 161). communities says: “Those of perishable crops than their This grim picture can us who trade in perishable counterparts in the other best be illustrated by goods like banana, oranges, two countries. reference to the appalling cucumber, watermelons, “We face lots of condition of roads in the tri- guavas, lettuce, onions, difficulties in transporting border communities linking among others, are mostly Liberia, Sierra Leone and affected. Sometimes the Continued on page 6

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our agricultural produce to projects as well as other market system functions Nzerekore and Massanta,” programs. Its pre-war poorly, largely due to bad laments Sallieu. “And the communities of over roads, limited transportation distance we cover to reach 400,000 people were and lack of functioning the market is not respected throughout institutions”. encouraging because the Liberia as master farmers. A trader in Foya roads are bad and terrible But after the war, one of the Kamah, Morie Collie, also especially during the rainy serious challenges faced by argues that bad road season”. These are Guinea’s Loffa farmers is poor road hampers trade. “From here biggest towns near its infrastructure. One major to Voinjama, traveling on boundaries with Sierra challenge highlighted in the the roads is cumbersome for Leone and Liberia Liberia Government’s Food traders and farmers who Sallieu says in spite Security Strategy is have to transport their of the difficulties they face affordability by consumers goods and produce to better on these roads, he and many and access to the market, priced market centers”. other traders like himself are pointing out the need for an Like Liberia’s Loffa forced to take the risk of improved road condition. County, Kailahun district in traveling to Nzerekore any In an IRIN interview Sierra Leone is famous for cash crops and notorious for Ex-President Kabbah in his handing over speech recommended bad roads. Since colonial that particular attention be paid to the Kenema-Koindu road for times to the start of the war which funding had been secured from four Arab countries and in 1991, the bulk of Sierra that of OPEC. Kabbah reiterated that the road deserves special Leone’s agricultural foreign mention because of “its strategic and security importance”. exchange earnings used to come from Kailahun’s cash way in order to make a in September 2007, the crop commodities, mainly living. “We have no choice Liberian Agriculture Coffee, Cocoa and Palm because if we don’t go, it Minister, J. Chris Toe, Kernel. Pendembu town in means we won’t sell our underscored the importance the Kailahun District was the produce or sell it at a highly of ensuring that food is last destination point for reduced price, even at a available in sufficient produce cargo transport by loss, in Nongowa or other quantities and quality to all railway during colonial days. outlying villages.” Liberians. Toe highlighted “Produce sales While Nongowa that one major hindrance in through the Sierra Leone residents are mostly garden achieving Liberia’s food Produce Marketing Board or subsistence rice and tuber security dream is bad roads. (SLPMB) used to greatly farmers, inhabitants of Foya He says: “Some areas are enhance Sierra Leone’s Kamah in Liberia and those prone to food insecurity export earnings”, says of Koindu in Sierra Leone are because of their remote Karmoh Fodei Koroma. But mostly cash crop farmers, location and inadequate today the road to Kailahun although they do not road infrastructure, among district from Kenema is as entirely depend on cash other things.” bad as the roads from crops for a living. Although a recent Kailahun town to Koindu. Before the war, WFP document on Liberia There is a strong Loffa County on the Liberian indicates that the underlying feeling among farmers and side of the border was an causes of food insecurity are traders in Kailahun District expanding agricultural low agricultural production that unless the main access community with very and low purchasing power, a road linking Koindu to enterprising inhabitants. recent market review by Kenema via Kailahun, Daru Loffa hosted several IRIN News shows that and Segbwema are European agricultural “outside Monrovia, the Continued on page 7

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transformed into a “Class A objectives as follows: (1) though it still sits, attracts Road”, farmers in that part Ensuring physical access to far less traders now than of the country will continue services, markets and before the war. This is partly to get far less value for revenue generating to the fear posed by dispute money on their produce opportunities, (2) Lowering between Sierra Leone and returns. According to the Transport cost to ensure Guinea over the nearby Critical Road Infrastructure affordability of transport; town of Yenga, but also Study undertaken by the and (3) In creasing efficiency partly to the bad road Sierra Leone Government, in the delivery of transport condition. roads requiring system. The Kailahun road reconstruction and Although the various issue has some political rehabilitation in the studies have emphasized the undertone. The last category of “Class A” should importance of good roads in government of Sierra Leone cover at most 800km. Of the the economic development Peoples Party (SLPP) made a 800km roads, the Kenema- of the country only a portion commitment to transform Pendembu road which is of roads are accessible in the the road to Kailahun to a 84km and Pendembu- real sense. The negative first class highway as part of Koindu road which 86 Km, if effects of bad roads on its nationwide development rehabilitated will provide Kailahun farmers are plan. A survey on the road access to the agricultural enormous. Due to the poor was done with the promise remote areas of Kailahun road condition, Kailahun that work will commence District. cocoa farmers are forced to after the elections. Now that Other documents under-sell their produce to elections are over, residents like the country’s Poverty mostly agents of Lebanese of Kailahun are still waiting Reduction Strategy Paper produce buyers who have to hear from the new (PRSP) have recognized the the capital to ply trucks and government whether it will importance of the road other heavy duty vehicles on continue from where the sector as an important the rugged Kailahun- last government stopped. Kenema route. This Chief Edward Kundu Foryoh, “Significant time savings and development has raised the Chiefdom speaker of productivity gains can be achieved by questions as to whether Kissy Teng, expressed the using Intermediate Means of Transport farmers in that region are hope that the new (IMTs) ranging from wheel barrows to actually getting the true government will pick up motor cycles and motor cars and trucks worth of their produce in from where the last with significant impact on women” money terms. governments stopped. “I don’t think with “Politics is over and I hope element to sustainable this situation we are the new President will not economic growth and benefiting because we sell abandon plans to poverty reduction. “The our produce for far less than reconstruct the road.” Government’s priority in the the normal price. Many of us In Freetown infrastructure sector is to want to avoid the trouble of recently, President Ernest improve land, coastal and transporting our produce to Bai Koroma promised river transport in order to Kenema with rocketing members of the Makona increase access to the rural transport fare”, Samuel River Union that work on the farming population and Langama a farmer from road will go on as planned as urban poor to the market Yenga laments. more than fifty percent of centre as well as social and The poor road the fund for the road has economic services”. condition is also affecting been received. Also, the Transport traders in the district. The Ex-President Kabbah Sector Strategy of March once famous Koindu 2007 outlines three major international market, Continued on page 8

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BRAVING THROUGH THE “PORTOR-PORTOR” ROAD BETWEEN KENEMA AND ZIMMI in his handing over speech countries, it makes a lot of introduced in the past and recommended that sense when the World Bank, used in the transport particular attention be paid in another study, system, private individuals to the Kenema-Koindu road recommends to the have usually reaped the for which funding has been governments of Sub Sahara benefits. The better secured from four Arab Africa – including the three understanding that is countries and OPEC. Kabbah Mano River Union countries required of the nature of reiterated that the road - that “Significant time Rural Travel and Transport deserves special mention savings and productivity and its impact on rural because of “its strategic and gains can be achieved by development is being security importance”. If the using Intermediate Means of addressed in current studies new President heeds the Transport (IMTs) ranging under the Sub-Saharan advice of his predecessor from wheel barrows to Africa Transport Program by and delivers on his promise motor cycles and motor cars the World Bank and ECA of upgrading the Kenema- and trucks with significant with the support of bilateral Koindu road, the first line of impact on women. That donors.” beneficiaries will be farmers returns on investments in The World Bank and traders in Kailahun. IMTs and low cost rural further asserts that “gaps Beyond them, the country infrastructure will be so high exist in rural transport will also benefit immensely that private people will services as evidenced by the in the form of economic respond with government considerable movements of growth. This is probably why role being largely people and goods that occur the most salient single promotional” (Source: off-road”. Therefore, recommendation contained Intermediate Means of “improving rural access and in the country’s recent Transport in SSA, World personal mobility of rural Diagnostic Trade Integration Bank Technical Paper No people, particularly women, Study (DTIS) for Sierra Leone 161). will help to increase is “Get the Cocoa Sector “IMTs would save productivity, and hence, Working Again”. large amounts of time and agricultural production. In view of the energy and reduce drudgery, Intermediate means of appalling road condition in particularly for women. transport has the potential the three Mano River Union When IMTs have been for achieving this.” END.

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L E A R N I N G C E N T E R

H O W T R A N S P O R T H E L P S A N E C O N O M Y [ W O R L D B A N K N E W S L E T T E R : “FINDINGS No 14 MARCH 1994” ] Transport helps an economy in two basic ways. First, it gives consumers access to places where they can engage in income-generating activities, consume other goods and services (including education and health care), or engage in leisure and social activities. Second, transport enters the economy as an intermediate input into production, either directly or as a complement to other factors (for instance, securing inputs or getting output to market). In the case of rural agricultural production, improving transport may lower input prices and hence production costs, improve access to credit, facilitate technological diffusion, increase the area of land under cultivation, or increase the availability of "incentive" goods. One study on Nigeria (Balwinder Singh, "An Analysis of Market Infrastructural Problems in the Green Revolution Period in Nigeria," Economic Affairs, Vol. 31, No. 4, 1986) reported the substantial costs to farmers due to inadequate transportation facilities connecting rural areas to market towns. On a national level, improved transport may increase trade and competition from imports, which in turn may lead to improved production efficiency, putting downward pressure on consumer prices and reducing seasonal fluctuations in price. In urban areas, the price and quality of transportation and other types of infrastructure significantly affect firms' decisions about where to locate and ultimately affect firms' output. In Kinshasa, for example, which has expanded fourfold physically since independence, a deteriorating infrastructure forces people living in districts developed after 1960 to walk long distances to reach a bus or their workplace? This affects the productivity of workers and the wages they are likely to demand. Transportation costs are a significant part of total costs, affecting the survival of small firms and the entry of new firms into an industry or market. National output can increase if inputs shift to more productive uses. By attracting inputs from other regions, transport can shift a region's production outward. ______W H A T I S R U R A L I N F R A S T R U C T U R E [ W O R L D B A N K N E W S L E T T E R : “FINDINGS No 191 SEPT 2001” ] Rural infrastructure can be seen as a complex of physical structures or networks within which social and economic activities are carried out. These structures are not ends in themselves, but are means to achieving the broader goals of poverty reduction and economic growth. Rural infrastructure contributes to these goals by providing essential services such as water and sanitation; energy for cooking, heat and light and employment generating commercial activities; transportation of goods and people; and the transmission and communication of knowledge and information. The updating of the global rural development strategy From Vision to Action provided an opportunity to take stock of experiences, consolidate lessons learned and synthesize emerging strategies for achieving sustainable RI service delivery in rural Sub-Saharan Africa. To this end, a participatory process was undertaken among RI practitioners at the World Bank to develop a “building block” paper, which focused on four RI sectors: • Rural Transport; • Rural Water Supply and Sanitation; • Rural Energy; and • Rural Information and Telecommunication

Characteristics of Rural Infrastructure The four rural infrastructure sectors have been characterized in terms of three broad attributes: (i) physical characteristics; (ii) ownership and decision-making; and (iii) finance. Within this framework, a major distinguishing characteristic involves the levels at which decisions are made to invest in RI services. For example, in the case of energy and telecommunications, the decision to invest generally resides with the private sector, while governments seek to attract investment and provide incentives for equitable provision. On the other hand, the decision to improve the rural road network is made by public entities at various levels, while water supply and sanitation decisions are generally made at the local community or individual level. In all sectors, RI service delivery models are in a period of transition, away from centrally- controlled public sector provision, to more private sector, demand-driven and decentralized models. END.

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B O R D E R L I N E S E D I T I O N 2 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 8 R O S E N A D I A : T H E R O A M I N G B A N K E R IN THE BORDER TRADING TOWN OF FOYA WHERE THE DEMAND FOR SAVINGS BANKING SERVICE IS GROWING, FORMER REFUGEE, ROSE NADIA, HAS BEEN SMART ENOUGH TO RESPOND. SHEIKH BAWOH REPORTS.

I had barely exchanged Rose greetings with Jaclyn Jaclyn Andrew, a hairdresser whom I was interviewing at the poorly constructed beauty saloon in the center of Foya town when a fair complexioned lady showed up. Our attention was drawn to the pretty visitor who was there to collect Jaclyn’s daily savings. I must hasten to say that the ROSE NADIA ATTENDING TO HER CLIENTS AT THE HAIR visitor’s purpose attracted DRESSING SALOON OF JACLYN ANDREW (EXTREME RIGHT) me more than her appearance. a year ago and has since earnings and gone out of Foya Kama in Loffa attracted hundreds of business. “Imagine what County, the biggest town in clients, mostly young would have happened to Liberia closest to the traders in Foya. The clients, the seed monies and border with Guinea and according to Rose, deposit profits of these young Sierra Leone, plays host to a daily minimum amount of people. Many would have some of the 14,000 strong 10 Liberian dollars over 31 said good bye to business a UN peace keepers days. For every deposit, long time ago because they deployed across Liberia. Rose scratches out a mark would have been tempted Despite Foya’s in the square of her clients’ to use the money unwisely, burgeoning population and bank daily savings card. At while others would have vibrant economy, the town the end of 31 days, 30 days lost their savings to rogues. has no formal banking deposit is returned to the So you see in the absence institution. Nevertheless, client and a day’s deposit of a bank in this traders, mostly youths, withheld as bank charges. community I am their have improvised a system Asked why she savior”. of banking by which they chose to provide such In the middle of our repose collective trust in service, she replied: “It’s conversation, her cell Rose Nadia as their banker. business and I’m out to phone rang. It was a call In her care young traders make profit otherwise from another client. Young save returns realized from there is no logic doing this Chernor Musa had their daily trade earnings. type of business” completed his thirty-one She’s widely hailed Rose argued that day savings cycle with Rose “the Roaming Banker”. without her scheme most and was calling to locate Rose, my new interviewee young traders who now his banker to withdraw after Jaclyn, told me she serve as her clients would money. Rose directed him started this kind of banking have been tempted to consume their daily Continued on page 11

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to where she was and within minutes, Chernor materialized and received three hundred Liberian dollars in front of my eyes. It would appear as if Rose always had ready cash on her for such eventualities. Afterwards, I was surprised to see Rose tearing Chernor’s savings card. When I requested an

For every deposit, Rose scratches out a mark in the square of her clients’ bank daily savings card. ROSE INSPECTING HER CLIENTS’ SAVINGS BOOK AS SHE At the end of 31 days, 30 days’ HOLDS THEIR SAVINGS CARD ON HER LEFT HAND deposit is returned to the client upon request and a day’s deposit and wants his or her spared sometime to withheld as bank charges. money back, I only give out complete the work at explanation, Rose said: “A nine days’ savings. That is hand”. new one will be issued to what we had agreed on. Rose was among him, this one (the torn They all know this is how I thousands of Liberians who card) is now useless. He is operate”. sought refuge in Sierra going to start afresh”. Though elated by Leone during the Chernor who would the confidence reposed in devastating rebel war. now begin his fourth her by her clients, Rose, a Previously resident of the monthly savings with the thirty-two year old Liberian capital, Monrovia, scheme beamed a broad housewife with two Rose left for a refugee smile when he was handed children, does not abandon camp in Sierra Leone when the money. He counted, her domestic work. “I strike the rebels closed in on nodded, and said bye to his a balance between my Monrovia. trusted banker. Chernor’s business and my house She returned to next move: to buy more work. I make sure I attend Monrovia few years ago goods and develop his to my family, especially my when the United Nations business to a higher level. children in ensuring that Peace Keepers were Apparently delighted they go to school on time”. deployed in Liberia. at accomplishing another “What if you are Realizing afterwards that business mission, Rose busy with domestic work the life she had lived in turned to me, smiling and a client intrudes to pre-war Monrovia was no broadly and said: “This is request your service, what longer the same, she what I do everyday”. would you do?” I asked. convinced her husband to Asked what would Again she smiled move their family to her happen should a client fail and answered, “Normally native town of Foya in to save the agreed thirty- our transactions do not last Loffa County. It was here one-day amount but opts long. But it all depends on that Rose launched her to make a withdrawal, Rose what specifically I’m doing. banking scheme, a business clarified: “If for instance I either attend to my venture she had discovered someone saves for ten days customer first or ask to be in Monrovia. END.

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B O R D E R L I N E S E D I T I O N 2 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 8 D A U D A ’ S D I A M O N D D R E A M MAKING FORTUNE IN DIAMOND DIGGING IS RARE. AMONG OTHERS, IT DEPENDS ON REALIZING RETURNS FROM ‘WASHING’ AN EXTRACTED GRAVEL-CONCENTRATE. IN DAUDA’S CASE, THE ‘WASHING’ USUALLY OCCURS TWICE A YEAR BUT HARDLY BRINGS HIM ANY REWARD TO WRITE HOME ABOUT. SIDIE SHERIFF REPORTS.

Looking 10 English. Thus the operations in after the guns years older than actual translation Congo as a result were silent and his age at 24, would be “I’m of the war, survivors had Dauda Kiawu now going to Mano Dauda’s simplest returned home. subsists as a River”. Apart from option was to In spite of this diamond digger in this semantic cross the river into challenge, Dauda Dari-Salaamu on significance of Sierra Leone. says he is not the Sierra Leone Dauda’s town, In Dari- bothered for a side of the Mano Congo also used to Salaamu, Dauda single moment River. Dauda is contribute has spent most of whenever he daily relieved of significantly to his time either remembers that nostalgia when he his childhood wakes up every peers who had morning and gazes before the war across this river in migrated to Liberia at the Roberts Port and scene of human Monrovia and had movements in his preferred birthplace, Congo, schooling and once a famous iron technical training ore mining town. are now said to be Congo is in fact in better positions the town known in of fending for Vai as Mano River. themselves. If you ask a typical Throughout his Vai speaking work life, Dauda Liberian in Grand can hardly go to Cape Mount bed with anything County to AN ARTISTIC IMPRESSION OF other than the “A YOUTH IN DIAMOND CAPTIVITY” food-for-work, few translate the PORTRAYED BY YOUTH LEADER, AMADU TARAWALLY statement sticks of cigarette “Mbetaana pre-war Liberia’s seeking refuge in and antibiotic pills Congo”, meaning high export the bush from distributed weekly “I’m going to earnings from iron marauding rebels to his labour gang Congo”, he or she ore. The other or fetching by their sponsor in will substitute the contributing towns fortunes beneath the big town of word “Congo” with were Bong Mines, the earth with Zimmi. “Mano River” Bomi Hills and bare shovels and Once in a blue when translating Yekepa. Following pickaxes powered the statement into the cessation of by his strong iron ore mining muscles and limbs Continued on page 11

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AS THE LABOUR GANG HE HEADS DIGS DEEP, DAUDA’S SYPHONES WATER OUT OF A DIAMOND PIT IN DARI-SALAAMU

moon, if there is winnings are sky.” Beyond this diamond captivity”. any shadow of realized, if ever description, Dauda Dauda has never luck, Dauda would realized, from says nothing about relented in thinking pocket a washing an the volume, weight, that he will one day commission of not extracted gravel- shape, colour, dent attain and overtake and luster which the economic more than 100 US concentrate in a make a diamond’s heights of his child dollars. The last diamond washing value and price. hood peers who are one was in 2003 sieve. In Dauda’s As the going gets now in “white colour when, from his case, this usually tough daily with jobs” in the cities. own diamond occurs twice a Dauda, his resolve to In Dauda’s mind, washing sieve, he year. Speaking in make it up one day this is achievable reported a piece Mende with a deepens. with the best of that brought strong Vai accent Living with God’s time. fortune to his boss Dauda says: “that memories of the To many equally in Zimmi and his piece looked like a gem stones he has destitute youths in boss’s sponsor in pebble that fills a seen in the past, big towns and cities Dauda says he has in Liberia and Sierra Kenema. sling meant to scare mustered enough Leone, one out of a birds away in a rice But fortune in courage to stay in hundred of Dauda’s farm during diamond business business as usual, a type achieves such harvests. It was as comes seldom. It business his peers in dreams. END. beautiful as the depends on the academia refer to as twinkling star in the number of times “wasted life in

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T H E E C O N O M I C S U R V I V A L O F B O R D E R Y O U T H MAKING ENDS MEET FOR YOUTHS IN COMMUNITIES AROUND THE MAKONA RIVER WHICH BOUNDS THE THREE MANO RIVER UNION COUNTRIES OF SIERRA LEONE, GUINEA AND LIBERIA HAS BEEN FRAUGHT WITH DIFFICULTIES. SHEIKH BAWOH REPORTS.

Even before the war involved in farming, Koindu the economic survival of youths are mostly inclined to youths in the said border buying and selling. There are communities was not easy. reasons for this. Koindu before On the Sierra Leone the war was a flourishing side of the border, the international trading center, eleven-year war had a attracting business from other devastating effect on the countries even beyond the lives of young people in Mano River Union and Koindu, the largest cross- providing employment for border commodity market youths. Secondly, during the center in the Mano River war, some of the youths who Union before the war. sought refuge in neighboring Koindu youths were countries or escaped to urban caught right in the thick of areas had acquired petty the war as they were trading skills which they now targeted by the rebel forces continue to employ as a for conscription. Koindu, like means of livelihood. the rest of the three “Although the Koindu countries’ border areas, was Market still sits, it is now a renowned for agricultural shadow of its former self”, production. Upland and says Ibrahim Jalloh, Chairman swamp farming, cocoa and of the Traders Union in coffee cultivation and Koindu. The cause has been animal husbandry were attributed mostly to the Yenga common as far back as the dispute which has scared away 60s when most African potential traders from countries were becoming venturing in to the area. independent of colonial rule. “As long as the According to the World Bank Guineans continue to occupy Youth and Employment Yenga, trade will be hampered Study on Sierra Leone, because in Koindu the guns “emerging occupations since are only two miles away”. Mr. Sierra Leone’s war ended in Jalloh’s position was re- 2002 are bike and taxi riding, echoed by the Sisters Unite, an petty trading and all female traders social club. hairdressing dominated by Mariama Jabbie female youths”. expressed anger over the Although there is continued occupation of evidence of farming, most Yenga by the Guinean forces youths in Koindu have and claimed they were being resorted to petty trading for denied the right to live a survival. Unlike other towns better life. “Before the war, in the Kailahun district you could start from nowhere where youths are heavily Continued on page 15

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B O R D E R L I N E S E D I T I O N 2 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 8 and survive in Koindu stuff lamented. Amara answered: because of business Youths in other “Unfortunately most opportunities then, but that trades like carpentry, contractors come with their is no more”, she lamented. masonry, tailoring among work team from as far as Even though others, are also struggling to Kenema or other areas. The business is not booming as survive as business is slow. only input from youths in before, Sia Tamba, a mother Many of those who were this area is labour. They of two, like her Sister’s Unite fortunate to have gone have little or no place for colleague, Mariama, had to through some form of skill- those of us who have learnt resort to selling foodstuffs training in these trades something”. instead of wearings which either as refugees or as ex- With their poor used to be her line of combatants have left either economic status many business. “Initially, I sold for Liberia where national youths in the area expressed clothing; not any more. reconstruction is in high the hope that something Business is not booming as gear or for other parts of the concrete would be done to before”, she explained. country. support their effort to But the problem of Osman Amara survive and live peaceful and unemployment and survival acquired skills in carpentry decent lives like their of the youths is not peculiar in Guinea while he was a counterparts in other parts to Koindu. The Sierra Leone refugee. On his return to of the country. poverty profile puts young Koindu, he set up a Sex trade is not adults between 15 and 24 carpentry shop but was known in Koindu, but there years among the poorest of forced to close it because of are evidences that young the poor. lack of business. Osman who girls stream across the Most of the now operates a relatively border to Foya Kamah in deprived youths are school profitable video centre, the Liberia which plays host to drop-outs found in rural and only one in Koindu, pointed UN peacekeepers and NGO urban areas and in slums in out a number of reasons for workers. the cities around the which carpentry is no longer In Liberia, a youth country eking out their living profitable in the township. policy document has been from mainly petty trading. “The population of Koindu finalized and presented to For the female itself has drastically reduced the President. While the youths in Koindu, it is lack of since the war. Besides, the youth await the full capital not skills that is kind of reconstruction in this implementation of the youth challenging their survival. area requires special skills policy, their condition, like Like their male counterparts, like ours.” their Sierra Leonean and a good number of them While it is true that Guinean counterparts, acquired some skills while most reconstruction of remain precarious. seeking refuge in Guinea private premises are being The youth in Foya and other countries. Many done by the locals Kamah in the Loffa County learnt soap-making and gara themselves and require very like those in Koindu suffered tying and dying. little skilled input, the area the brunt of the fourteen “Even if you are a nonetheless have witnessed year long civil conflict. Some genius in gara tie-dying, you reconstruction of some were conscripted into the cannot make much out of it social institutions, like clinics armed rebellion while if you don’t have the capital and schools undertaken by hundreds of others were to purchase quality government or NGOs. But displaced and became materials. Our talents are what is the contribution of refugees in neighboring being wasted”, Isata skilled workers in this countries. Kamara, who like Mariama reconstruction process? Jabbie, now trades in food Continued on page 16

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Young girls were NGO called International opportunities that lie ahead. used as sex slaves during the Rescue Committee (IRC) With mobile war. sponsored ten girls to communication having its With the United undertake training in my foothold on a rural area like Nations Peace Keepers’ saloon”, Kumba says. Loffa, Ishmael James is deployment throughout the Nonetheless, Kumba making the most out of it. country and the successful is still doing hairdressing His shop in the heart of Foya disarmament program, new because she thinks it is is a hot spot for cell phone social and economic issues better to work without users. He recharges cell have emerged including the profit than to sit down with phone batteries, sells top-up incorporation of stigmatized her hands between her legs cards and trades in currency. youths into the main stream doing nothing. Starting almost two years of society. Kumba could not ago, Ishmael expressed During the youth take up farming as a means delight at the progress he is conference which was held of survival, she lacks the making. Not less than thirty in 2006 in Freetown energy to do farming and phones are being charged at attended by representatives she is not even familiar with any given time. He says: “my of youth leaders in the three farm work. generator is making money Mano River Union countries Another youth, John for me in the absence of plus Ivory Coast, George Fayia, operate a carpentry electricity”. Wisner of the Federation of shop and trains eight other Ishmail is highly Liberian Youth (FLY) referred youth. John’s team of respected because of his to the youth of Liberia as a carpenters makes furniture business acumen and his ‘high-risk group in the entire such as bed, chairs, and position as Secretary sub-region’. tables for sale. “I cannot say General of the Foya Traders He pointed out it is a profitable business, Union. Even though he is “HIV/AIDS, unemployment, but it is manageable”, he doing relatively well in lack of education and says. As a carpenter, John business, Ishmail however training, drug and substance had hoped that he would deplore the general abuse, teenage pregnancy, have been hired to do the condition of living in Foya. involvement in war and roofing work on the many “Things are hard”, he says. highest number of ex- public structures that are Compounding the combatants in the sub- being put up – such as problem of Foya is the region” as challenges which schools, health centers, etc. presence of a fourteen- the Liberia youth have to But he says contracts have thousand strong UN Peace contend with. not been coming his way. Keeping force along with a While some youth in Carpenters in Foya, like number of NGOs providing a Foya are engaged in some those in Koindu, are being potentially fertile ground for form of economic activities ignored for others from sex trade. There is evidence that would enhance their urban centers. “We are of commercial sex trade livelihoods, many more find hardly contracted by NGOs. going on in the township. life difficult to live. Even for They bring in their work And HIV/AIDS and teenage those engaged in business or team”, he lamented. When pregnancy which plague trade, life they would say is asked why with the seeming Liberia are undoubtedly part not easy. non-profitable outlook of of the socio-economic Kumba Tamba carpentry in the area, he still survival problem facing this established a hairdressing trains young men, John said: region. END. saloon three years ago but “We have to prepare them has still not found it worthy. for tomorrow. We hope “The only time I made some things will change for the profit was last year when an better and catch up with the

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH YOUTH CHAIRMAN, FALLA GBORIE SHEIKH BAWOH INTERVIEWS A BORDER YOUTH LEADER, FALLA GBORIE, ON A RANGE OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ISSUES THAT POLICY ATTENDERS SHOULD KNOW.

Bawoh: What about capacity? Gborie: We don’t have enough. We have been writing projects and asking for help but to no avail. Take the cleaning of the town for example. We received a wheel barrow, 2 pick axes and 4 machetes which are grossly inadequate to clean the town. One way we’ve tried to address the problem is any time a youth commits a crime, we ask him/her to clean or brush a portion of land within the township. But we need more tools to facilitate the cleaning. Bawoh: I also understand that transportation is a major problem due to bad roads. Gborie: Perhaps the most immediate support we need from the central government for now is the proper maintenance of our bad roads, especially those leading to Kailahun, Buedu and Kenema. It is only when these Y O U T H C H A I R M A N : roads are properly repaired that we can easily F A L L A G B O R I E transport our produce from these areas. Other services such as water, health and electricity are secondary. Bawoh: I understand you are the youth chairman of The present felt need of the Kailahun District this section – Toli Section. communities is good roads. Gborie: That’s right. Bawoh: Mr. Gborie let us also talk on the security situation for the traders and farmers of this region. Bawoh: What can you say about the youth of this local governance area? Gborie: There is no problem regarding security in this region. We have community policing and we always Gborie: Our welfare is actually not improving. It is keep meetings with our colleagues in the neighboring discouraging due to lack of jobs, poor infrastructure countries and discuss issues that will always keep us and social amenities. Some of the youth are business united. I have been a victim of border conflict during people but there are virtually no funds to improve on the Yenga crisis and now as chairman of the youth, I the businesses they do. Also a good number of us are shall continue to preach peace to the youth and other farmers but we lack basic farming implements. members of the various communities. Bawoh: You mean, on the whole, you lack capacity, Bawoh: Mr. Gborie, there used to be an international funds or sponsorship? market at Koindu and yet it has not returned to its normal functioning. How does this affect the livelihood Gborie: Very correct Mr. Bawoh. of the people of this community? Bawoh: What specific economic activities are the Gborie: The lack of international market at present in youth engaged in? Koindu is really a major problem affecting youths and Gborie: A good number of youths are business people other members of this community. Before this time, a including myself, the youth chairman. Some are good number of youths and other community people produce buyers; others are goods sellers. They sell were all business people but at present, there are few, things like Kerosene, and other domestic goods. Some if any, who can boast of a million Leones to invest in youths even transport goods such as banana cassava, business. cocoa and potato to Kenema and other places. But we Bawoh: I also understand that government has lack financial capacity and sponsorship. identified and, demarcated new land for the Bawoh: Can you elaborate on the issue of sponsorship international market and has also started putting up and lack of capacity? structures on the site. So what do you want any organization to do for this community? Gborie: Yes, we lack capital and sponsorship. It was only sometime in 2004 that donors came to assist 5-6 communities but the farmers were too many. Only 2-3 villages benefited per section and there were a lot of grumbles among those who did not benefit. Continued on page 11

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Gborie: All that I want is the work to be done speedily. “I have been a victim of border The market should also be big enough to host an conflict during the Yenga crisis and international lorry park, a hotel or guest houses etc. now as chairman of the youth, I shall Once such a project is completed, it will attract investors from all over the world. continue to preach peace to the Bawoh: Mr. Gborie, other youths of this area also youth and other members of the depend on farming. You mentioned some people various communities”. Gborie engaged in farming. What kinds of farming do they undertake? Gborie: Such farming is referred to as self-help. We do Gborie: Yes, last year, an NGO, Plan International it by group. We are normally engaged in cocoa came with such program and a good number of people brushing and groundnut planting. We divide ourselves benefited. Eight groups within this community into groups and mostly do it 3 times per week except benefited and at present, they are training 5 groups of when the work is tedious such as clearing. We do it people from this community who will also be charged together and provide our food for work through with the responsibility of training other groups as to individual contributions. how they should manage their businesses? Bawoh: What about social activities that will bring in Bawoh: How is it called, I mean the micro-credit income generation? program? Gborie: There is a community centre here and one of Gborie: It is commonly called in our local Krio as the present Parliamentarians that came from the “Compin Yone”. But there are also different names in constituency bought us a musical set which we can Kissy. It simply means togetherness rent at a minimal cost to carry out our social activities. Bawoh: Now Mr. Gborie tell me a bit about yourself. Bawoh: What about the money people pay for the set, Gborie: Well, I am the youth chairman, born in is it for the youth association? Bumpoh, a small village within Koindu Community. I Gborie: Yes. attended school here and at present, I am married with four (4) children. Life has actually not been easy for Bawoh: Then what about the cross-border trade, are me. During the war I had to move to Guinea for safety. there any problems? After the war, I came back home and it is through Gborie: There are problems regarding cross-border business activities that I have been able to manage and trade especially with Guineans. They always demand take care of my family. I am the only indigene of this for a lot of identification cards and other documents. land that went during the war but later returned after But at present, most of our businesses are done in the war in order to help develop our community. That Kenema as well as Freetown. is the reason why I am presently the youth chairman. I also contributed greatly during the N.C.D.D.R program Bawoh: What about Liberia, are there problems? by talking to combatant youths to disarm. At present, we are all working towards the development or our Gborie: No problems at all community. Bawoh: You mentioned World Vision in our discussion Bawoh: Quickly, what can you say about the future of as the NGO that gave out Micro-credit to people but youths of this border region? you said only Liberians benefited from that project in 2002-03 Gborie: The most important thing is for the government to try very hard to move the Guineans Gborie: Yes, during that time this area was occupied by from Yenga. Because with Guineans still occupying mostly Liberian ex-combatants. There were not many Yenga, the future of our youths is still not secure. There community people after the end of the war. is continuous harassment of youths living within and Bawoh: You mean those that benefited from that around Yenga by Guineans. That particular border project were not indigenes of Foya Kama? region is not free and safe for our youths and even other Sierra Leoneans living in that part of the country. Gborie: Not all of them. Some came from very far areas in Liberia. Bawoh: You mean Yenga also affects the living condition of people within that area? Bawoh: And there is no vocational centre within these communities? Gborie: Yes, 90% of youths are affected by the Yenga issue. Our youths mostly, business people are Gborie: Not at all continuously harassed by Guineans living in Yenga. Bawoh: Let us talk about this micro-credit or ‘Osusu’. There is yet no solution to the Yenga problem. How is it working? Is there any NGO that is helping Bawoh: Thank you so much for this interview. these communities? Gborie: Thank you too Mr. Bawoh.

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LE DOLLAR LIBÉRIEN PÉNÈTRE PROFONDÉMENT EN SIERRA LEONE R É F L E X I O N S S U R C E R T A I N E S D E S C A U S E S P O L I T I Q U E S E T É C O N O M I Q U E S

P A R M O H A M E D S I D I E S H E R I F F

Il y a plusieurs passages «Une voiture de des prix dans la devise internationaux à la frontière par Peugeot 504 prendra presque 2 libérienne ». l'intermédiaire de route de heures au voyage par une « Ainsi est la situation. moteur dans le bassin du fleuve distance de 84 milles le long de la Nos personnes instruites dans le Mano. Vous avez le zone tri route bien pavée et large de monde des sciences frontière où la Guinée, le Libéria Babangida de Monrovia au pont économiques disent : laissez les et la Sierra Leone partagent une de la frontière du fleuve Mano. Il forces du marché dicter le statu frontière commune autour des faudrait à la même voiture de quo », Hannafi a déploré, « et villes marchandes importantes Peugeot par moyenne de 5 aucune force des bras ne peut de Koindu, de Foya et de heures pour couvrir un voyage changer ceci. La seule magie qui Nongowa. Vous avez le secteur de 80 milles de la ville de la peut changer ceci est pour que le de tri frontière où la Guinée, le Sierra Leone de Kenema au gouvernement à Freetown Libéria et la Sierra Leone même pont », indique Hannafi réactive le projet d'avant-guerre partagent une frontière Massaquoi, un maître fermier de de route Bandajuma ». commune autour des villes manioc et homme d'affaires Avant le marchandes importantes de résidant à Fairo, la ville de siège commencement de conflit civil Koindu, de Foya et de Nongowa. social de chefferie de dans les deux pays dans les Vous avez l'axe célèbre de Sorogbeima en Sierra Leone. années '90, les gouvernements Voinjama-Nzerekore entre le Hannafi et ses de l'ancien Président Samuel Doe Libéria et la Guinée. Vous avez la compatriotes mesurent du Libéria et le Président Joseph route de Gbalamuya-Pamlap lier correctement la « proximité » en Momoh de la Sierra Leone ont Conakry et Freetown par termes de temps de voyage, pas commencé l'exécution de ce qui Forecariah en Guinée et Kambia distance. Quoiqu'ils semblent devait être connu « la route de en Sierra Leone, entre d'autres. être `distance étroit' à leurs l’union du fleuve Mano ». Les Remarquablement il y a sièges sociaux provinciaux, ils le deux gouvernements ont aussi la route célèbre de considèrent beaucoup plus facile l’intention de construire une Babangida qui lie Monrovia à Bo et plus rapide traiter des affaires route de première classe entre et Kenema en Sierra Leone par avec Monrovia qu'avec Kenema le capital libérienne, Monrovia, le pont dans la frontière du ou Bo ou Freetown dans leur et la deuxième capitale de la fleuve Mano. Le village de Bo est propre pays. Sierra Leone, Bo. Le Libéria était sur le côté du pont de Libéria et « En raison de la bonne de faire son bout droit de Jendema du côté de la Sierra route de moteur, nous pouvons Monrovia jusqu pont a la Leone. C'est d'ici qu'on observe facilement et rapidement frontière du fleuve Mano; et la le dollar libérien pour avoir atteindre Monrovia pour vendre Sierra Leone de Bo jusqu’au pénétré profondément en Sierra nos marchandises et rentrent même pont. Leone, remplaçant presque chez nous avec les articles Avant la guerre a l'offre légale de la Sierra Leone, fortement nécessaires que nous démarré dans ce pays vers la fin « Leone », comme agent achetons de là. Ainsi notre de 1989, le Libéria a rapidement monétaire dans des transactions demande du dollar libérien est si et efficacement accompli sa économiques. haute et fréquente que nous propre partie du projet qui est La supériorité sommes irrésistiblement venus devenu la route de Babangida. d’autoroute libérienne par pour l'adopter en tant que notre La Sierra Leone est allée rapport à la Sierra Leone a fait la devise », a dit Jebbeh Gray qui moins qu’a mi-chemin par le proximité de Monrovia aux commerce les produits projet et le résultat était la route Chefferies Sierra Léonais de alimentaires et les articles de de Bo-Bandajuma. L’autre Makpele et de Sorogbeima plus toilette entre Zimmi et portion de la route, de évidents et plus faciles et les Monrovia, « quand les gens du Bandajuma jusqu’au pont de la habitants dans ces régions capital de notre pays, Freetown, frontière, n'a été jamais faite préfèrent d’utiliser cette route viennent nous visiter, ils sont jusqu'au début de la guerre en facile au lieu de passer une étonnés d'entendre notre mars 1991. « On a dit qu'alors le journée entière en route pour banane, mangue et les vendeurs gouvernement de la Sierra Leone voyager à Bo ou à Kenema en oranges, par exemple, indiquent a le temps suffisant pour Sierra Leone.

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B O R D E R L I N E S E D I T I O N 2 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 8 accomplir sa propre partie du travail avant la guerre mais elle « Ainsi est la situation. Nos personnes n’a pas été vue pour avoir fait beaucoup pour aller de l'avant instruites dans le monde des sciences avec le projet ni il a bien économiques disent : laissez les forces du communiqué les raisons du son retard. Par conséquent il y avait marché dicter le statu quo », Hannafi a déploré, de désaffection répandue et le « et aucune force des bras ne peut changer ceci. sentiment de la déception au sud-est de la Sierra Leone » La seule magie qui peut changer ceci est pour indique Amjad Tunis, un indigène que le gouvernement à Freetown réactive le de Zimmi. projet d'avant-guerre de route Bandajuma ». C'est discutablement en partie la raison de la transformation économique et sociale qui est maintenant gouvernements de la Sierra joindre le All People’s Congress évidente parmi les communautés Leone et du Libéria. Pour le (APC) et qui a continué à dans le pont de la frontière de Libéria c'est une question de apprécier la confiance de son Sierra Leone. Mais la vague de réunion culturelle et une collège électoral dans toute sa libérianization dans des occasion pour renforcer les liens carrière politique. chefferies de Sorogbeima et de avec la Sierra Leone. Cela Ironiquement, on a dit Makpele en Sierra Leone n'est explique pourquoi le Président que la lignée maternelle forte pas limitée à la conquête de Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, elle-même faite par l'ancien Président Siaka devise. étant relié au groupe ethnique Stevens lui-même réclame à la Sorogbeima et Makpele de Gola, a dû récemment ville historique de port maritime ont également une affinité accorder la citoyenneté de Sulima dans la chefferie de ethnique et religieuse très forte libérienne aux milliers de Sorogbeima. L’ancien Président aux personnes parlantes de Vai réfugiés Sierra Léonais au Libéria, Siaka Stevens a désigné souvent et de Gola au Libéria. En fait, beaucoup de qui viennent de considère Mannah Kpaka comme Sorogbeima est à l'origine Vai et Sorogbeima et de Makpele. son oncle maternel. Néanmoins Makpele est à l'origine Gola. Il y a Pour la Sierra Leone, Mannah Kpaka et Siaka Stevens également une culture profonde c’est le contraire. Même avant la étaient les amis politiques de l'Islam imprégnant des terres guerre les habitants de impairs tout au long des temps de Vai-Gola s'étendant des Sorogbeima et de Makpele se de la vie des deux hommes collines de Bomi et de sont considérée en grande partie d'État. Robertsport au Libéria et à d’être marginalisé par le Maintenant l'histoire Pujehun et à Kailahun en Sierra gouvernement à Freetown et est de venue réelle. Les régimes Leone. piétiné par l'événement politique ont changé au Libéria et en Sierra Tout ceux-ci expliquent du meurtre froid de leur fils de le Leone. L'étape politique a joué le pourquoi les indigènes de sol à Zimmi, le professeur centre serveur et a indiqué au Makpele et de Sorogbeima Kemokai en 1981. Cet revoir à beaucoup de joueurs de étonnent souvent les visiteurs de événement a mené à la rébellion guerre et de politique. Freetown qui ne parlent pas de Dorkpowosu a suivi de ce qui L'environnement international Mende en indiquant non a été considéré comme une sous lequel l'impunité et les seulement des prix en dollars réponse répressive par le régime dictatures avaient régné par les libériens, mais également en de Siaka Stevens. années 70 et le 80s n'est plus conversant avec eux en anglais Jusqu'au début de la identique. Aucun régime sensible libérien au lieu de Krio. guerre en Sierra Leone, un sens ne peut s'imposer aux citoyens. Il Extérieurement, leurs langues d'apathie politique et les est grand temps pour des indigènes - Gola et Vai - ont été tendances de la nonchalance et gouvernements de penser en remplacées par Mende, la plus de la révolte latente étaient termes de se légitimer en grande langue parlée indigène en nombreux à Sorogbeima et obtenant l'appui populaire des Sierra Leone. Mais au fond de Makpele. L'ancien représentant bases plutôt que de montrer la leur cœurs ils n'ont jamais oublié parlementaire et le héros puissance et la prouesse de leurs racines et identités politique des deux chefferies, soumettre des citoyens. linguistiques. Mannah Kpaka, selon rumeurs Toutes les initiatives Il y a des ramifications était le seul politicien sous-régionales récentes de paix importantes de ce d'opposition pendant le régime dans l'ouest. développement pour les de Stevens qui a refusé de

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B O R D E R L I N E S E D I T I O N 2 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 8

G R O W I N G G L O B A L D E M A N D F O R C A S T O R B E A N S RESPONSE BY HANAFII FROM THE MANO RIVER BORDER TOWN OF FAIRO IN SIERRA LEONE

H A N A F I I ’ S C A S T O R D R E A M

My name is Hanafii Sadabu Massaquoi, Monrovia and Freetown who have regular born of Fairo, Sorogbeima Chiefdom in Sierra access to the internet, I have come to learn Leone. I had lived the bulk of my 57 year life as about the increasing global demand for castor a businessman in Liberia and the US. I lost all beans due to the upsurge of global search for my assets and savings to the war in Liberia in an alternative source of non-oil energy in the 90s where I served in many public service highly industrialized countries. capacities in the 60s, 70s and part of the 80s As a career businessman who loves after returning from the US. taking risks, my instincts are telling me that Approaching 60, I thought that the best I cultivating Castor Beans is going to be my best could do with the rest of my life was to go back bet to realizing my dream. home to till the vast array of fertile and virgin Right now, to provide us with the lands left behind by my forefathers. seedlings, I have planted about 75 trees in my I returned to Fairo in 2002 and met my backyard as part of over 5000 seedlings people all involved in subsistence farming. “Oh planted elsewhere. I have also convinced up to No!”, I said to myself, “I’m not going to do 3000 farmers in Sorogbeima, Makpele, Barrie farming to merely make ends meet. I am and Kpanga Kobondeh chiefdoms in Pujehun going in for profit. I wonna be rich”. District to follow my steps. I must at this point Without a single cent, I mobilized the give thanks to the assistance of former MP and enormous idle youth labour in and around my wife of late uncle, Mary Masallay of Bo, who village to cultivate the largest cassava farm in offered me the first young tree I have now Pujehun District, albeit in Sierra Leone in 2003. multiplied in thousands. I intend to cultivate 50 We successfully harvested the cassava acres this year plus an average of 4 acres per tubers and processed out of it a number of farmer, among those contacted, which will food items such as garrie, foofoo and toh hopefully all sum up to 80,000 acres. which we sold to customers in Liberia and On behalf of myself and the Pujehun Sierra Leone. District Castor Beans Grouping, I am Still doing cassava and sweet potatoes in requesting the central and local governments, large quantities, I have now decided to also particularly the Pujehun District Council, as venture into the cultivation of a very strange well as potential investors, including grant and and unknown crop in Sierra Leone: Castor loan giving institutions, to partner with me. Beans. With the assistance of my cousins in

Borderlines Is seed sponsored by the World Bank Civil Society Fund under its Regional Youth Initiative Page 21

E D I T O R I A L T A S K T E A M TASK MANAGER Mohamed Sidie Sheriff (Africa Region External Affairs, World Bank-Sierra Leone) TASK TEAM MEMBERS Wahab Lera Shaw (UNDP-Sierra Leone) Vincent John (Mano River Union Secretariat) PUBLICATION EDITOR Mohamed Sheriff (Pampana Communications) CONTRIBUTORS

Sheikh M. Bawoh (New Vision Newspaper)

Hanafii S. Massaquoi (Farmer/Businessman)

Falla Gborie (Youth Leader)

Dr. Eugenia Coker & Ahmed Mansaray (French Translators)

The BORDERLINES initiative is seed sponsored by the World Bank and implemented by Pampana Communications with manpower support from the Mano River Union Secretariat and UNDP in Sierra Leone

THE CONTENTS OF THIS MAGAZINE DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE OFFICIAL POSITIONS OF ITS SPONSORS