The Mano River Union (MRU) yesterday, Monday 23rd January commenced a two-day experts meeting on peace and security; trade and industry at the Miatta Conference Center in Freetown.
The meeting brought together personnel from immigration, aviation and customs and excise departments alongside officials from the Trade and Industry and the Peace and Security Commissions of the MRU Member States.
In her welcome address, the MRU Secretary General, Haja Saran Daraba Kaba said following the decision taken by the Heads of States of the MRU in May 2000 to revitalize the Union, member states have been confronted with a number of instability issues ranging from electoral disputes, crisis in the supply of stable foods, massive uncontrolled movements of displaced persons and refugees, unemployment of young people, upsurge in organized cross border crimes and the side effects of the crises in North Africa.
She noted that the disappearance of large quantities of arms from Libya and the circulation of arms and ammunitions in other West African states exposes the MRU basin to serious insecurity risks.
The MRU Scribe noted the urgency for the examination of the situation in the face of these security threats by synergizing actions on all the issues highlighted above.
The Secretary General maintained that it is only when collective action is taken would MRU states be able to address the security challenges posed to their countries.
Head of the Cote d’ Ivoire delegation and Chief of Defence Staff, Soumaila Bakayoko said there are lot of challenges to address on issues of peace and security. He expressed hope that the meeting will lead to actions that will address peace and security in the MRU countries. He expressed his country’s commitment to the maintenance and sustenance of peace and security in the sub region.
Liberia’s Head of delegation and Coordinator, National Security Reform Council and Attorney at Law, Federick Gbemie, stressed the need for member states to promote Contextual Integrated Commissions that should be supported by all citizens of the respective MRU states, and called for an effective immigration management system to ensure safety and security of our the peoples of the MRU through the facilitation of trade and safe passage of persons.
Head of delegation of Guinea and Director of Public Security, Zakaria Cisse noted the threats posed by organizations such as Al-Qaida in the Middle East and North Africa and Boku Haram in Nigeria.
Sierra Leone’s Head of Delegation and Acting Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier-General Samuel Omar Williams, said that most of the issues to be discussed are multifaceted and cuts across many disciplines and is also multidimensional in context and therefore a synergetic approach is needed to accelerate the implementation of existing protocols on the free movement of goods and persons within the MRU.
Brigadier-General Williams called for the establishment of an effective and sustainable program and concrete recommendations that will assist MRU countries to systematically address the existing and emerging challenges confronting member states.
MRU Deputy Secretary, Mrs. Linda Koroma who chaired the meeting said noted MRU’s consideration of peace as the main stay for socio-economic development within the sub region.
By Abibatu Kamara
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