Mano River Union (MRU)

Headquarters

Freetown, Sierra Leone

Date of creation

3 October 1973

Objectives

The MRU aims to achieve greater unity and solidarity and to enhance cooperation between member states and peaceful coexistence among its peoples. This is by promoting peace, security, democratic principles, and popular participation of citizens in the pursuit of good governance. The objective is also to reinforce regional integration and development to integrate commerce and industry, to create employment, and to promote social and cultural affairs.

Timeline

1973	Creation of the Mano River Union
2000	Creation of the Mano River Women’s Peace Network (MARWOPNET)
2004	Revitalisation of MRU after falling moribund due to civil war in Liberia and Sierra Leone

Normative framework

1973	Mano River Constitutive Act
2000	Adoption of 15th Protocol to the MRU Declaration on Cooperation on Defence, Security, Internal Affairs, and Foreign Affairs
2008	Consolidated Protocols to the Mano River Declaration, including the 15th Protocol
2013	Adoption of the Strategy for Cross-border Security in the Mano River Union

Activities

Political dialogue

Date	Institutions	Agreement
2019	United Nations development programme (UNDP)	Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen regional integration to advance peace and security

Governance and development

Areas	Date	Activities
Border management	2012	Activation of joint border security and confidence building units
Cross-border security	2014	Meeting of experts from Mano River Union countries to draft a five-year document (2014-2018) on the implementation of the strategy, supported by ECOWAS and UNOWAS

Peace and security

n/a