Liberian Speaker calls for Mano River Union parliamentary cooperation

During the solemn opening of the 10th legislature of the Guinean National Assembly in Conakry, Richard Nagbe Koon, Speaker of the Liberian House of Representatives, called for strengthened parliamentary cooperation among Mano River Union nations.

Koon emphasized the deep historical, cultural, and economic ties between Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Côte d’Ivoire. He argued that while these connections are assets, they also expose the region to shared challenges, including cross-border migration, human trafficking, illicit migrant smuggling, insecurity, informal trade, unemployment, and inadequate border infrastructure.

Addressing migration, Koon advocated for an approach based on legality and human dignity, stating, “Our law must not be hostile to migrants,” while maintaining national security. He proposed the operationalization of a sub-regional Parliament to harmonize legislation and manage borders effectively, suggesting that borders should serve as “bridges, correctly managed and secured” rather than mere barriers.