The four member states of the Mano River Union including Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire have signed protocols officially establishing the Mano River Union Parliamentary Body (MRUPB).
The landmark signing and launch ceremony took place at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, Monrovia.
The occasion was hosted by Hon. Richard Nagbe Koon, Speaker of Liberia’s House of Representatives, and was attended by key regional parliamentary leaders including Rt. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, Speaker of the Parliament of Sierra Leone; Dr. Dansa Kourouma, Speaker of the Transitional Parliament of Guinea; and Hon. Adama Bictogo, President of the National Assembly of Côte d’Ivoire. Also present were high-level parliamentary delegations and Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, President Pro Tempore of the Liberian Senate.
In his keynote address, Speaker Richard Koon described the establishment of the MRUPB as a turning point in the region’s history, marking a new era of solidarity among the legislatures of the Mano River Union. He emphasized that parliaments have a critical role to play in promoting peace, strengthening resilience, and advancing people-centered development.
Declaring that the region shares a common destiny, Speaker Koon called for deeper institutional synergy and sustained legislative engagement to meet the aspirations of citizens across the MRU countries.
The MRUPB is envisioned as a strategic platform for harmonizing national laws, responding jointly to cross-border challenges, and coordinating regional policy across areas including trade and economic cooperation, climate change and environmental protection, regional peace and security, human development, and gender equality. Speaker Koon said the new parliamentary body offers a powerful mechanism to approach regional challenges not in isolation but with a unified legislative voice, ensuring that decisions are coherent, consistent, and focused on the well-being of all.
He outlined a vision for the MRUPB to promote regional unity through legislative collaboration, combat smuggling and illicit trade across borders, advance environmental protection efforts, facilitate regional trade, and mainstream gender equality throughout its agenda.
Underscoring the importance of women’s empowerment, Speaker Koon reaffirmed his longstanding “HeForShe” campaign and insisted that gender inclusion must be both a moral imperative and a developmental necessity for the region.
Calling for the full operationalization of the MRUPB, he urged all four member states to dedicate resources and ensure meaningful participation in building a strong, functional regional parliamentary body. He expressed gratitude to international partners such as ECOWAS, the African Union, the United Nations, and various development agencies for their support and cooperation in bringing the idea of the MRUPB to life.
“Let us rise, together, as one regional voice for peace, development, and dignity,” Speaker Koon declared. “Let this new parliamentary body be a living, breathing institution of action and integrity.”
The MRUPB will provide a formal framework for drafting model laws, coordinating regional legislation, and amplifying the voices of ordinary citizens across Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire. It is widely regarded as a bold move toward establishing a fully institutionalized regional parliament that complements and strengthens national legislative bodies.
Adding to the momentum, Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas of Sierra Leone pledged his country’s full commitment to the long-term success of the MRUPB. He praised the initiative as a crucial vehicle for regional unity and legislative diplomacy, affirming that Sierra Leone stands ready to collaborate in the interest of peace and development.
The signing of the MRUPB protocols marks a new chapter in the governance of the Mano River Union region and is expected to set the stage for deeper integration, shared progress, and a more stable and prosperous West Africa.
