By Precious D. Freeman
The Mano River Union (MRU) Secretariat has launched a pivotal high-level ministerial meeting, bringing together top officials from Liberia, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, and Sierra Leone to strengthen regional cooperation and address longstanding border and maritime disputes.
Held from June 16 to 19 at the EJS Ministerial Complex in Monrovia, the meeting focuses on the reaffirmation of land boundaries and the delimitation of maritime boundaries among the four West African nations.
The initiative seeks to promote peaceful coexistence and sustainable development in the sub-region, through the formation of Joint Technical Commissions.
These commissions, comprising experts from each member state, will conduct geospatial surveys, analyze existing treaties, and develop new, mutually accepted demarcation protocols.
Their work is guided by principles of international law and the African Union’s legal frameworks for boundary management.
Speaking on behalf of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Liberia’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh, hailed the gathering as “a landmark step toward enhancing regional integration, cross-border security, and sustainable development in the Mano River basin.”
Senior government officials in attendance include Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Internal Affairs, all of whom engaged in focused dialogue aimed at resolving decades-old territorial issues through legal clarity and mutual respect.
Member states used the occasion to reaffirm their commitment to peaceful negotiation, regional solidarity, and adherence to established international norms.
“The stability of our region rests on our ability to address disputes not through confrontation, but through dialogue and cooperation,” said one participant from Sierra Leone’s delegation.
The MRU Secretariat emphasized that the establishment of Joint Technical Commissions marks a significant advancement in regional diplomacy.
These bodies are expected to set clear roadmaps for boundary resolutions that will reduce tensions, enhance intergovernmental coordination, and pave the way for joint development initiatives along shared borders.
The meeting has drawn attention from major international and development stakeholders, including the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Liberia National Police (LNP), and the United Nations Human Rights Office, all of whom have welcomed the MRU’s initiative as a model for peaceful dispute resolution in West Africa.
This renewed diplomatic momentum could yield tangible benefits in trade, security cooperation, and migration management, as cross-border communities continue to face challenges linked to unclear jurisdictional lines.
As discussions continue through the week, MRU officials remain optimistic that the outcomes will lead to formalized frameworks that will safeguard peace and strengthen unity across the Mano River region.
