Mano River Union established by Liberia and Sierra Leone

On October 3, 1973, Liberian President William R. Tolbert Jr. and Sierra Leonean President Siaka P. Stevens signed the Mano River Declaration in Malema, Sierra Leone. This agreement established the Mano River Union (MRU), an organization designed to foster economic collaboration between the two neighboring nations.

The original vision for the MRU focused on creating a customs union, eliminating trade barriers, and enhancing productive capacity in sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing. The founders aimed to leverage shared borders, cultures, and markets to promote regional stability, economic prosperity, and social advancement.