Senior government officials from Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, and Sierra Leone have gathered in Monrovia for high-level ministerial meetings to begin the establishment of joint technical commissions focused on reaffirming land borders and delimiting maritime boundaries among the four Mano River Union (MRU) member states.
The four-day conference, hosted by Liberia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, is taking place at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex from June 16 to June 19, 2025, and marks a significant step in strengthening regional cooperation and addressing long-standing boundary-related challenges.
In his opening statement, Liberia’s Minister of Internal Affairs, F. Sakila Nyumalin, Sr., described the meeting as a pivotal move toward peace, stability, and sustainable development in the MRU region. He noted that since its founding in 1973, the MRU has played a central role in facilitating regional dialogue and cross-border collaboration.
“This initiative will allow for detailed geospatial assessments and the formulation of new demarcation protocols that align with international law and African Union standards,” Minister Nyumalin said, urging all member countries to maintain peace and strengthen bilateral ties.
He also thanked technical and financial partners, particularly GIZ, for supporting the MRU’s efforts toward integrated border governance.
Delivering remarks on behalf of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Liberia’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh, described the move as a “landmark step toward advancing regional integration, improving cross-border security, and promoting sustainable development across the Mano River basin.”
“The initiative demonstrates our collective commitment to resolving border disputes not through conflict, but through dialogue, legal clarity, and technical collaboration,” he added.
Also addressing the gathering was Madam Ange Konan Monu, Deputy Secretary General for Peace, Security, Good Governance, and Social Affairs at the MRU Secretariat. She emphasized that the initiative builds on the 2020 African Union decision calling for stronger border governance and cooperation between neighboring states.
“Despite progress, challenges such as porous borders and inadequate staffing persist,” Madam Monu said. “We must generate the political will to turn these borders into tools for regional integration, peace, and prosperity.”
The ministerial-level discussions are expected to lead to the formation of joint technical commissions, which will be tasked with conducting field assessments, collecting geographic and legal data, and preparing recommendations for official demarcation and maritime delimitation in disputed or undefined border areas.
As cross-border trade, migration, and security threats continue to define the MRU region, experts say the successful implementation of the joint border commissions could serve as a model for peaceful boundary resolution and regional development across the West African sub-region.
