On May 29, 2025, Hon. Richard Nagbe Koon, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Liberia, delivered a compelling speech before the Sierra Leone Parliament during his official visit to Freetown. He expressed deep gratitude for the warm hospitality extended to him and his delegation, emphasizing the strong historical and cultural ties binding Liberia and Sierra Leone as sister republics.

Hon. Koon underscored the shared legacy of both nations as homes to communities shaped by the transatlantic slave trade and praised their role as co-founders of the Mano River Union (MRU). He highlighted the need to elevate cooperation within the MRU from executive dialogue to legislative collaboration by establishing a dedicated parliamentary body. This institution would harmonize national laws across trade, security, education, and infrastructure sectors, strengthen democratic oversight, and serve as a platform for dialogue to prevent conflict and promote peace.

He also stressed the importance of youth and gender inclusion, sustainable environmental management, and presenting unified regional legislative positions to tackle common challenges. Drawing on ongoing dialogues with Côte d’Ivoire’s Speaker, Hon. Koon affirmed Liberia’s commitment to democratic governance, regional security, and economic integration through frameworks such as ECOWAS and AfCFTA.

He called on MRU legislators to intensify parliamentary diplomacy and cooperation, advocating for seamless cross-border trade and infrastructure development that would unlock prosperity for all. In closing, he expressed heartfelt appreciation for Sierra Leone’s diplomatic support of Liberia’s bid for a Non-Permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council and called for collective efforts to build a resilient, inclusive, and united Mano River Union parliament a legacy to honor the vision of their founding generations.

May God bless the Mano River Union and its peoples.