France, May 16 -- A long-running border dispute between Sierra Leone and Guinea has flared again, after a military incident forced villagers to flee and reignited diplomatic tensions between the two West African neighbours.

On 28 April, Guinean soldiers fired three shots in the air as they attempted to enter the village of Sokoma, near Yenga - a mineral-rich settlement that has been contested for more than two decades.

The gunfire caused panic in nearby communities and sent residents fleeing south towards the town of Koindu.

"We heard three gunshots," local resident Daniel Makundu told RFI. "People got scared and fled towards Koindu. The next day, the Guinean military prevented any return to Yenga."

Although calm has returned, local a...