By: TPA News Desk | African News | www.thepointafricanews.com/africa

The Mano River Union (MRU) has officially inaugurated its long-anticipated Parliament, marking a significant stride towards deeper legislative cooperation and regional integration among its four member states. The historic launch, held in Liberia’s capital on Sunday, July 20, saw lawmakers from Liberia, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, and Guinea convene to sign the foundational “Monrovia Declaration.”

The new regional parliamentary body is designed to serve as a vital platform for harmonizing national laws and coordinating policies to address a range of shared cross-border challenges. These critical issues include combating smuggling and illicit trade, mitigating the impacts of climate change, tackling persistent youth unemployment, and enhancing regional security.

Liberia’s Speaker of the House of Representatives, Richard Koon, hosted the landmark event at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex. He was joined by his counterparts, Speaker Segepoh Solomon Thomas of Sierra Leone, Dr. Dansa Kourouma of Guinea, and Adama Bictogo of Côte d’Ivoire, alongside parliamentary delegates and senior government officials from across the sub-region.

“This is a big step for our region,” stated Speaker Koon. “We can no longer solve these problems in isolation. The MRU Parliament gives us a unified voice.” Speaker Thomas echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the necessity of a coordinated response to common struggles such as fragile security, climate shocks, and trade barriers. “Our countries share borders and burdens,” Thomas added, highlighting that the Parliament provides a formal mechanism to align policies and enhance governmental accountability across the Union.

The establishment of the MRU Parliament signifies a crucial shift in regional cooperation, which has historically been largely driven by presidents and foreign ministries. With lawmakers now poised to step into a more prominent role, the body is expected to draft and vote on regional laws, oversee joint development projects, harmonize trade and customs policies, and monitor compliance with MRU agreements, aiming for a more people-centered governance approach.

The inaugural session of the MRU Parliament is anticipated before the end of the year, with leaders expressing hope that it will lay a robust foundation for enduring peace, enhanced trade, and stronger governance across the Mano River Union bloc.