FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE – On Wednesday, May 28, a Legislative Delegation headed by House Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon paid a planned visit to the Rt. Hon. Speaker of the Republic of Sierra Leone’s Parliament, Mr. Segepoh Solomon Thomas.
During a brief meeting, the Speakers of Liberia and Sierra Leone discussed the possibility of establishing the Mano River Union (MRU) Legislative Parliamentary Body within the Member States.
Highlighting the purpose of the visit, the Speaker of the Liberia Parliament, the Rt. Hon. Koon said the meeting between the two Speakers of Parliament was meant to advance discussion geared towards the promotion of democratic governance, peace, security and to further strengthen and ensure cross-border investment and trade. He also disclosed that that Parliament would also create a viable roadmap in deepening insights for their respective neighborliness, promoting solidarity, and demonstrating strives in conflict prevention measure and to ensure a stable political and regional peace against any external threat of aggression.
Speaker Koon continued that the proposed MRU Legislative Parliamentary Body would help promote cross-border trade and prevent drug dealing and terrorism within Member States. He acknowledged that they are the direct representatives of the people, which is all the more reason the establishment of the MRU parliamentarian body would help address most of the challenges at their respective borders. He called on Speaker Thomas to team up and be part of the movement in formulating a framework as to how they would officially launch the proposed MRU Legislative Parliamentary Body.
Thrilled by the idea, the Rt. Hon. Speaker Segepoh Solomon Thomas welcomed the Liberian Speaker to Sierra Leone Parliament. Speaker Thomas noted that it was never meant for Africa to have borders, adding that Africans are one people. He added that across the African borders, one would see people of the same tribe and same languages, making specific references to the Mendes and other tribes in Liberia. Speaker Thomas decried the unfortunate predicament of Western colonization, which demarcated Africa, making it very difficult for Africans to speak as one. Speaker Thomas, therefore, un-hesitantly endorsed the idea of establishing the MRU Legislative Parliamentary Body. Speaker Thomas reiterated that Liberia and Sierra Leone are almost the same in terms of customs and traditions.
“We are just the same as you begin to imagine why we have the Mendes, the Mandigos in Liberia. Even the history of migration for the two countries is almost the same. I have the hope that someday this continent will be united,” he said.
Speaker Thomas assured his Liberian counterpart that he has undying support for the proposed MRU Legislative Parliamentary Body. He urged Speaker Koon to expedite the facilitation in order for all Speakers within MRU Member States to sit and chart the way forward for the momentous establishment of the proposed Mano River Union Legislative Parliamentary Body. Speaker Thomas also expressed optimism that other speakers within the Mano River Union Member States would definitely buy such a laudable initiative. Speaker Thomas concluded by requesting the Rt. Hon. Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon to address Honorable Members of the Sierra Leone Parliament on the next adjourned date, which is tomorrow, Thursday, the 29th of May 2025, of which the Liberia Speaker of Parliament graciously accepted to address Members of Parliament tomorrow.
