Monrovia, Liberia – The creation of cooperative technical committees to reaffirm land borders and clarify marine boundaries among the four West African countries has been discussed by representatives from Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Côte d’Ivoire in Monrovia. Representatives from the Mano River Union (MRU) member nations and heads of state are in attendance at the summit, which is hosted by Liberia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs. The meeting is planned from June 16–19, 2025.
Liberia’s Internal Affairs Minister Hon. F. Sakila Nyumalin, Sr., highlighted in his introductory remarks the MRU’s longstanding function as a promoter of regional peace and prosperity since its founding in 1973. According to him, the establishment of the joint technical committees is anticipated to allow for the development of new demarcation procedures that adhere to both African and international norms as well as thorough geospatial evaluations.
The subregion’s peace must be prioritized and upheld, Minister Nyumalin advised MRU member nations. He thanked the participating MRU member nations and partners.
Speaking at the opening session on behalf of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh, Liberia’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General, praised the initiative as a historic step toward promoting sustainable development throughout the Mano River basin, enhancing cross-border security, and promoting regional integration.
The project demonstrates the MRU’s dedication to settling long-standing border conflicts through communication, technical assistance, and legal clarity, Cllr. Tweh said.
Building on the 2020 African Union decision, Madam Ange Konan Monu, the MRU’s Deputy Secretary General for Peace, Security, Good Governance, and Social Affairs, also spoke and emphasized the importance of the meeting in strengthening integrated border governance and encouraging collaboration among member states.
She stressed that despite the progress, issues like personnel shortages and porous borders still remain a challenge, calling for political will and effort to turn borders into instruments for sub-regional integration and peaceful cohabitation.
The Mano River Union (MRU) is a regional intergovernmental organization in West Africa, originally established in 1973 by Liberia and Sierra Leone to promote economic growth, social progress, and cultural advancement through enhanced trade and cooperation. It is named after the Mano River, which flows between Liberia and Sierra Leone. Guinea joined the union in 1980, and Côte d’Ivoire became the fourth member in 2008.
The MRU aims to integrate the economies of member states and coordinate development programs in areas such as peacebuilding, trade promotion, industry, energy, agriculture, natural resources, transport, telecommunications, and financial affairs. The union also seeks to foster political and economic cooperation, including regional security.
The union faced significant setbacks during the civil wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone from the 1990s to early 2000s, which weakened its operations. However, it was reactivated in 2004 by the leaders of Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea, who committed to revitalizing the organization. The four MRU countries share borders, history, cultural traditions, and ethnic ties, facilitating cross-border trade and social connections.
Key objectives of the MRU include establishing a customs union, liberalizing trade among members, promoting political and economic cooperation, and supporting regional development. The union has achieved progress in training and manpower development, infrastructural projects like road networks and bridges, and adopting common external tariffs to encourage trade.
