Monrovia- November 24, 2021: The Manor River Union has end a special conference in Liberia with a joint Communique that calls for closer working relations with ECOWAS, AU, UNOWAS and other partners to revive the 15th Protocol of the MRU on Peace, Security and Defense.

Here’s the full joint communique below:

THE MANO RIVER UNION DIPLOMATIC, PEACE, SECURITY AND DEMOCRACY CONFERENCE, NOVEMBER 23, 2021, FARMINGTON HOTEL, MARGIBI COUNTY, REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA

The Secretariat of the Mano River Union convened a special Mano River Union Diplomatic, Peace, Security and Democracy Conference on the political situation in the Republic of Guinea at the initiative of H.E. Dr. George Manneh Weah, President of the Republic of Liberia, who graced the occasion by delivering the keynote address. The conference was hosted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia, H.E. Amb. Dee- Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr, at the Farmington Hotel in Margibi County, Republic of Liberia from November 22-23, 2021, who welcomed the guests, while the MRU Secretary-General H.E. Amb. Medina Wesseh gave the overview.
The conference was attended by:
Sierra Leone
H.E. Prof. David J FRANCIS, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Brig. Gen (Rtd). Hassan Kellie CONTEH, Minister of Defense

Brig Gen. Abu Bakarr CONTEH, Representing the Chief of Defense Staff

Republic of Cote d’Ivoire
H.E. Alcide DJEDJE, Minister Delegate to the Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and the Diaspora, in Charge of African Integration,
Mr. MALAN Koffi Jean Paul, Representing the Minister of State, Minister of Defense

Major General KOUAME N’dri Julien Sebastian, Deputy Chief of Staff

Republic of Liberia
H.E. Amb. Dee-Maxwell Saah KEMAYAH, SR., Minister of Foreign Affairs
Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Daniel Dee ZIANKAHN, Jr, Minister of National Defense
Maj. Gen. Prince C. JOHNSON, III, Chief of Staff

Participating in the conference and making special remarks were:

1. H.E. Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of the Republic of Ghana and Chair of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers (virtual)
2. H.E. Amb. Isbayene Driss, Representing the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates of the Kingdom of Morocco
3. H. E. Amb. Maman Sambo Sidikou, Representing of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission
4. H.E. Annadif Khatir Mahamat Saleh, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS)

The conference was observed by high ranking officials of the Government of the Republic of Liberia and other distinguished personalities including:

H.E. Chief Dr. Jewel Howard Taylor, Vice President
Hon. Dr. Bhofal Chambers, Speaker of the House of Representatives
Hon. Senator Albert Chie, President Pro-Tempore and some members of the Senate

His Honor Francis S. Korkpor, Sr., Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
Members of the Cabinet
Religious Leaders
Traditional Leaders
Youth Leaders
Women Leaders

The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Liberia was present and others participated virtually.
Mr. Neil Scott (in-person)
Dr. Babatunde A. Ahonsi, Resident Coordinator – Sierra Leone (Virtual)
Mr. Phillippe Poinsot, Resident Coordinator – Cote d’Ivoire (Virtual)
The members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corp in the Republic of Liberia also observed the meeting.

The conference adopted the form of separate closed door working sessions of Foreign Affairs Ministers, Defense Ministers and Chiefs of Defense Staff. During the open and closed door consultations, the participants reiterated their grave concerns about the political situation in Guinea, particularly the unconstitutional removal from office of a democratically elected government, and thereby endorsed and reaffirmed the common position of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) and pledged support and commitment to the ECOWAS process and transition road map in Guinea.

The conference commended the relentless efforts of H. E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS and President of the Republic of Ghana to bring about a peaceful and amicable resolution of the situation in the Republic of Guinea.

The Conference welcomed the pronouncements and commitment of the National Transitional Council of Guinea to restore constitutional order and return power in the shortest possible time.

The delegates further noted with keen interest the focus of the National Transitional Council to fight corruption, initiate reforms and strengthen institutions to sustain an irreversible transition to democracy, governance and constitutional rule in Guinea.

The Conference adopted with great appreciation the policy framework and guide outlined in the keynote address of the President of the Republic of Liberia, H.E. Dr. George Manneh Weah who observed the historical threats to the peace, security and stability of the sub region and commended the MRU in its attempt to foster closer working relations with ECOWAS, AU, UNOWAS and other partners to revive the 15th Protocol of the MRU on Peace, Security and Defense.