President Julius Maada Bio and Liberian President Joseph Nyuma Boakai on Monday held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, with discussions centered on peace and security challenges affecting the Mano River Union subregion.
During the meeting, President Bio underscored the importance of continued engagement among regional leaders as West Africa faces growing border and security-related tensions.
He described President Boakai as his “Big Brother” and said stronger cooperation among neighboring countries is essential to maintaining peace and stability.
President Bio noted that persistent security concerns along the borders of Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea continue to affect regional cooperation and slow progress within the Mano River Union framework.
The two leaders reaffirmed the strong historical, cultural and economic ties shared by the peoples of the three countries and stressed that diplomatic dialogue remains the best path for resolving ongoing border disputes.
The discussions also focused on the border disagreements involving Guinea and Sierra Leone, as well as Guinea and Liberia. Presidents Bio and Boakai agreed on the urgent need for a Mano River Union Summit, an initiative earlier proposed by Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara during recent talks with President Boakai.
The leaders further expressed concern over delays affecting the Mano River Union Headquarters Project and the restructuring of the MRU Secretariat, both of which have reportedly been slowed by the unresolved border issues.
They called for constructive engagement and mutual understanding among member states to restore confidence in the regional body.
President Boakai also raised concerns about reports of Burkinabè nationals entering the Reserved Sarpo National Park in Liberia, linking the development to instability spreading from parts of the Sahel region.
Both presidents concluded by reaffirming their commitment to diplomacy and regional cooperation as key tools for preserving peace, security and stability across the Mano River Union subregion.
