MRU Countries To Resolve Border Disputes, Boost Regional Unity

By Laurina B Lormia
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, has emphasized the need for unity and peaceful coexistence across the Mano River Union (MRU) as a means of fostering regional stability and development.
Speaking on Monday, June 16, 2025, at the opening of the MRU High-Level Ministerial Meeting held at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex, Minister Nyanti delivered a powerful message urging MRU member states to prioritize people-centered dialogue and cross-border cooperation.
The four-day summit, which runs from June 16 to 19, has brought together ministers and senior officials from Liberia, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, and Sierra Leone to initiate the formation of Joint Technical Commissions aimed at resolving long-standing boundary disputes and strengthening regional collaboration.
“There must be borderless conversations between tribes within the MRU,” Minister Nyanti stated, adding that “through these people-centered dialogues, the union will grow stronger and more united,” she added.
Minister Nyanti further highlighted that peace along borders is the cornerstone of broader national and continental peace.
“A peaceful MRU is a peaceful ECOWAS, and a peaceful Africa,” she said. “This initiative represents a transformative pathway toward a collaborative, integrated, and sustainable future for the continent,” she noted.
The summit focuses on reaffirming land boundaries and delimiting maritime borders between MRU countries. The planned Joint Technical Commissions will conduct geospatial assessments, review existing treaties, and develop new demarcation protocols in line with international law and African Union standards.
Speaking on behalf of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Liberia’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh, described the initiative as a landmark step toward advancing regional integration, improving cross-border security, and promoting sustainable development across the Mano River basin.
He stressed that the establishment of the commissions demonstrates the MRU’s collective commitment to diplomacy, legal clarity, and technical cooperation in resolving disputes that have historically caused friction among member states.
Participants at the summit reaffirmed their commitment to peaceful negotiation, regional solidarity, and adherence to international norms.
The MRU Secretariat underscored the importance of the Joint Technical Commissions in reducing border tensions, improving governance, and fostering socio-economic cooperation among the four nations.
The summit will continue through June 19 with a series of technical sessions and intergovernmental consultations aimed at developing a comprehensive roadmap for boundary resolution and regional peacebuilding.