Who we are
Building a Stronger, United Region
The Mano River Union (MRU) is dedicated to fostering peace, unity, and prosperity among its member states. We believe in the power of cooperation to drive economic growth, social progress, and democratic governance.
Our mission is to strengthen ties between Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire, creating a region where people can thrive. We work tirelessly to promote:
Peace and Security:
Ensuring stability and safety for all.
Social and Cultural Development:
Enriching the lives of our people.
Good Governance:
Fostering democratic principles and citizen participation.
Economic Integration:
Stimulating trade, industry, and job creation.
Overview and History of the Mano River Union
The Mano River Union (MRU) was created in 1973 by Liberia and Sierra Leone. The goal was to improve the lives of people in the region through better trade, stronger communities, and rich culture. The union is named after the Mano River, which flows between Liberia and Sierra Leone.
In 1980, Guinea joined the MRU. The three countries worked together to grow their economies and help each other.
However, wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone from 1991 to 2003 stopped the MRU’s work. Many people left their jobs, and the union became very weak.
In 2004, the leaders of the three countries decided to restart the MRU. In 2008, Côte d’Ivoire joined. The four countries share borders, history, traditions, and similar people.
Creation of the Mano River Union
Guinea Joined the Mano River Union
Revitalisation of Mano River Union after Civil wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone
Cote d'Ivoire joined Mano River Union
What We Do
Economic Development and Regional Integration
Within this key area, the Mano River Union (MRU) seeks to generate multi-level action across the member states to support economic development and regional integration across the four countries. Under the current strategic plan, the MRU has designed actions towards:
- Trade facilitation,
- Agriculture and food security,
- Natural resource management and,
- Infrastructure development.
Health, Well-being, and Community
The MRU region has faced many challenges, like the Ebola outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic. These crises showed us how important it is to work together to protect people’s health and well-being within the region.To build stronger communities the MRU is focused on:
- Improving healthcare
- Gender Empowerment
- Women Empowerment
- Youth Empowerment
- Education, Sensitization, and Training
Peace, Security, and Democratic Governance
In pursuit of this vital objective, the MRU seeks to support peace, security, and democratic governance across its member states ensuring that structural issues and border security are strengthened while each member develops their democratic processes to such a level that they can guarantee political and economic stability across the sub-region.The current strategic plan has designed actions towards:
- Border security and management
- Democratic governance and
- Disaster preparedness and response.
Institutional Development
To effectively achieve its goals, the MRU is committed to strengthening its internal capabilities. This involves aligning our staff, resources, and infrastructure to meet the evolving needs of the region. We aim to build a strong reputation as a leading regional organization that works closely with member states to promote stability and growth.
Key initiatives include:
- Enhancing visibility and partner engagement.
- Improving institutional coordination.
- Strengthening staff capacity and knowledge management.
Management Team
Amb. Simeon Moibah
Secretary-General
Dr. Abu Bakarr Tarawallie
Deputy Secretary-General
Economic Development and Regional Integration
Mr. Mamadi Dioumessy
Deputy Secretary-General
Administration and Finance
Mdme. Ange Konan Monu
Deputy Secretary-General
Peace and Security, Good Governance and Social Affairs