Boakai Drums Up Support For MRU Secretariat, Protocol -Raps High-Level Meeting On Economic Integration, Peace

MONROVIA : President Joseph Boakai has been impressing upon stakeholders in the Mano River Basin of the need to support the implementation of the MRU revised 15th Protocol on Peace, Security and Defense.

Also underscoring the historical threats to the peace, security and stability of the sub region, the Liberian leader called for increased collaboration within the MRU towards supporting conflict management, resolution, peace building and political transformation.

He said doing so would be an added impetus to the proposed revision of the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance of 2001.

Speaking at an MRU High-Level Meeting of ministers of foreign affairs, finance, defense, and stakeholders July 21-22, 2024 at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, President Boakai called on the 44 attendees from MRU member States to advocate for support to the MRU Secretariat as to ensure viability and visibility in view of further strengthening its various organs to facilitate trade and economic integration in the sub-region.

Dignitaries at the meeting represented Sierra Leone, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea and host Liberia.

The meeting was intended to prepare the MRU, as a sub-regional organization capable of addressing emerging security and economic issues through collective actions.

President Boakai commended the MRU member states for fostering closer working relationship amongst them, requesting the support of ECOWAS, AU, UNOWAS and other partners to support the MRU Secretariat to ensure the proper functioning of its various organs, especially the regular meeting of the Technical Committee on Finance and Administration (T-CAF), and the Union Ministerial Council (UMC) on an annual basis as prescribed by the MRU protocol.

Also speaking at the conference was the Secretary-General of the Mano River Union, Ambassador Maria G. Harrison, who presented a statement on the status of the Union and made proposals for strengthening the Union.

The MRU Secretary General stressed the need to discuss peace and security, a permanent MRU office in Freetown, as well as partnerships.

Ambassador Harrison also called upon development partners to foster stronger and more active partnership in peace building initiatives, specifically for its engagement in the construction of the Peace Bridge between Guinea and Sierra Leone within the Nongoa and Koindu axis.

The High-Level meeting then deliberated on the five key points of the agenda, taking into consideration the presentations from the technical meeting experts who had earlier made presentations to the body.

At the same time, the High-Level Meeting adopted the policy framework and guide outlined in the keynote address of the President of the Republic of Liberia.

After deliberations, the participants came up with an 18-point resolution, which amongst other things, posited that  the MRU Secretariat should be strengthened and made viable and visible with the possibility of increasing Member States contributions to the Secretariat, and that support from national government of member states of the MRU be solicited to take ownership of the availability, accessibility, operationalization and functionality of the ECOWAS biometric card especially at various border points, free of charge – for the first two years.

The meeting also resolved that the MRU governments consider bearing some or all of the cost of the card to ensure its availability and  making it compulsory for all MRU citizens to obtain in the soonest possible time or as deemed necessary by the authority of Heads of State, and that the capacity of state security actors, and border management personnel in the customs procedures, immigration functionality, and all trade facilitation procedures and the development of standard operation procedures and rules of engagements are harmonized and strengthened.

The MRU High-Level Meeting also agreed that the Secretariat conducts an analysis of the four countries’ readiness for the ECO Currency; and present report of such assessment to the Heads of State, stating further that the Regular Joint Military Exercises are conducted to enhance interoperability and readiness among MRU countries through regular joint security exercises thereby improving military ties and sharing best practices.

According to the Communique, coordinated border control measures are implemented through the deployment of advanced surveillance technologies, increased patrols, and establishment of joint border task forces to curb illegal activities and secure borders effectively, including Early Warning Systems and Centralized Intelligence Sharing to be developed to establish a regional early warning system and a centralized intelligence database for real-time information sharing to detect and respond to security threats promptly.

The attendees also resolved to engage in Political Mediation and Prevent Electoral Violence, and that MRU elections observer team is set up  to engage in preventative diplomacy to monitor elections and address conflicts before they escalate, reducing pre and post-election violence.

The participants further agreed that the MRU Protocol Implementation and Secretariat Accountability is strengthened to ensure the domestication and implementation of MRU protocols by member states and enhance the accountability of the MRU Secretariat, including the involvement of the Foreign Ministers on the Ministerial Council for better coordination; and that given the new multiple challenges of the subregion, Ministries of Foreign Affairs of member states should harmonize responsibilities to ensure consistency and coordination across the Union.

The Communique further provides that the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of member countries should be responsible for international cooperation which, in essence, includes relationship management within the Union, as well as advancing joint projects.

“Ministries of Foreign Affairs should sign all international instruments, inter-union, and serve as the entry point for engagement on peace and security to ensure that all relevant domestic institutions are engaged,” the participants further agreed.

Noting that the Heads of State of the Union have not met for 11 years, the high level meeting recommends that the Heads of State Summit should be held before the end of the year 2024 in either la Cote d’Ivoire or la Guinea.

“The meeting resolved that going forward the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Member States should be members of the Ministerial Council,” the Communique indicated, noting that prior to the Heads of State Summit, the Secretariat will convene Technical Commission and Union Ministerial Council meetings that will include Ministries of Foreign Affairs during which consideration will be given to other relevant ministries at the next ministerial meeting.

The Heads of State, the Communique pointed out, will decide on the location of the Headquarters of the MRU Secretariat, noting that Sierra Leone has provided a parcel of land for the construction of a permanent headquarters, while Cote D’Ivoire has called for a review of the location of the Union’s Headquarters.

At the meeting, the participants, in the communique, provides that the Secretariat takes note of the emerging issues around the prevalent use of illicit drugs, youth, trafficking in persons, climate change and other social issues and design appropriate programs to address them within the Union, saying that the Secretariat is to review all Protocols of the MRU to assess their relevance to the contemporary situations in the Union, and address any gaps in governance. “Results of this assessment to be presented to the Heads of State,” noted.

The High-Level Meeting then thanks Morocco for its participation and support and tasks the Secretariat to follow up on Morocco’s offer of multilateral support to the Union, and expressed deep and profound thanks and appreciation to H.E.  Joseph N. Boakai, Sr., President of the

Republic of Liberia, for the guidance, which led to successful hosting of the Dialogue.

“Special appreciation also to the Liberian government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headed by Madame Sara Beysolow Nyanti, for the excellent coordination and hosting of the Mano River Union Dialogue,” the Communique concluded.

The Communique was signed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti on behalf of Liberia,   Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Musa Timothy Kabba for Sierra Leone; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Ivorians Abroad Wautabouna Ouattara for Côte d’Ivoire, and a proxy for Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration, and Guineans Established Abroad Dr. Morissanda Kouyate for Guinea.