The Sawla shelter camp, which housed thousands of victims displaced by the Gbenyiri conflict, has officially been closed.
Officials from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) dismantled the temporary structures on Thursday, September 18, 2025, following the return of affected persons to their home communities.
Savannah Regional NADMO Director, Mahama Zakaria, confirmed the development in an interview.
He noted that the final group of returnees left the camp on Wednesday afternoon, allowing for the complete closure of the facility.
“Indeed, we are officially closing the camp because almost all of our people here have returned to their communities, and we continue to encourage them to go,” Zakaria stated.
The Gbenyiri conflict, which erupted over a land dispute between two rival groups, claimed the lives of 31 people and displaced approximately 48,000. The Sawla camp was established as a temporary refuge for victims fleeing the violence.
While the closure marks a milestone in recovery efforts, Zakaria mentioned that some victims who crossed into Burkina Faso are still in need of assistance.
He said that relief items are being mobilised to support them through coordination with NADMO’s national headquarters.
“There’s assurance from my headquarters that some relief items have been dispatched for us to see how we can get them across to support them,” he added.
Zakaria appealed to residents in the region to maintain peace and resist the urge for further conflict, stressing the need for unity and development across communities.
