MONROVIA, LIBERIA-A two-day high-level meeting of Ministers of Defense and Chiefs of Defense Staff has started in Monrovia.

The meeting was organized by the Mano River Union and the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS).

Speaking at the start of the program, Monday, May 24, 2021, Liberia’s Defense Minister, Daniel Ziahkan highlighted the importance of finding workable solutions to ongoing security threats in the Mano River Union basin.

He expressed the hope that the meeting will look into the protection of marine and human security in the Mano River Union countries.

Also speaking, a Representative of Sierra Leon Defense Ministry urged the participants to develop tangible framework for collaboration in addressing terrorism threats in the region.

He, at the same time, reiterated the Government of Sierra Leone’s commitment to the peaceful co-existence of the Mano River Union member countries.

Also speaking, Liberia’s Foreign Minister, De Maxwell Kemayah termed terrorism as a global phenomenon that needs to be collectively tackled by regional leaders.

According to Minister Kemayah, terrorism has the tendency to influence diplomacy, intelligence and war in all spheres of the society.

He said:” Terrorism creates insecurity and the idea that leaders cannot protect those they are governing.”

He also said the MRU is an important vehicle that, if adequately supported, can help in maintaining regional peace and security, and pledged Liberia’s support to the MRU.