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Sunday, July 22, 2007

MRU Leaders End Summit - Agree to Consolidate Peace

On Tuesday, leaders of the sub-regional grouping, Mano River Union, met in the Guinean Border town of Gueckedou, to discuss issues of mutual concern affecting the region. The leaders, among other matters, discussed the disputed Yenga land issue between neighboring Sierra Leone and Guinea. Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is serving as mediator in the dispute.

• On Tuesday, leaders of the sub-regional grouping, Mano River Union, met in the Guinean Border town of Gueckedou, to discuss issues of mutual concern affecting the region. The leaders discussed the disputed Yenga land issue between neighboring Sierra Leone and Guinea. Liberian Pres. Johnson Sirleaf is serving as mediator in the dispute.
Photo: James M. Garreson, II/Executive Mansion

A summit of leaders of the Mano River Union has ended in the Guinean border town of Gueckedou with an agreement to promote development in the sub-region.

The leaders also agreed to consolidate peace and security through collaboration among Intelligent and Security Chiefs of the sub-region to avoid conflict.
An Executive Mansion release says the leaders have also agreed to strengthen the secretariat of the Union to make it more effective.
The summit held on Tuesday, brought together Sierra-Leonean President Tejan Kabbah; Guinean Prime Minister, Lansana Koyoute and Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who served as Chairperson.
On the Yenga land dispute between Guinea and Sierra Leone, the Liberian President told reporters that historical documents on the disputed land are being retrieved to set the basis for a peaceful resolution of the dispute between the two neighboring countries. 

The President, who is mediating in the conflict, was on Tuesday taken on a guided tour of the disputed area across the Makona River by Sierra-Leonean President Tejan Kabbah.
Meanwhile, the President has been inspecting development projects in Lofa County. Projects inspected included the Voinjama Multilateral High School, currently being renovated under the auspices of a Japanese NGO, Peace Wings.
At an Indoor program in Voinjama, celebrating the safe arrival of the President from Guinea, President Johnson-Sirleaf reminded the citizens of government’s responsibility to improve their living conditions,

But urged Liberians to take self initiatives to contribute to the development of their respective counties and stop relying only on government and development partners to do what they could do for themselves.
The President returns to the capital later on Wednesday.

The Analyst Newspaper : Liberia