West Africa: A Legislative Bridge Rises Across the Mano River

Edited by: Fatima Babadin

In a bold stride toward regional integration, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, and Guinea have formally launched the Mano River Union Parliamentary Assembly (MRUPA)—a historic legislative platform aimed at fostering cross-border cooperation and democratic governance. The launch took place on July 20, 2025, at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Monrovia, Liberia, with high-level participation from the Speakers of Parliament and dignitaries across the subregion. This body will align policies on trade, security, climate change, and gender equity while creating legal frameworks to jointly address issues like smuggling, youth unemployment, and border instability.

The MRUPA represents a shift in West Africa’s political evolution—placing lawmakers at the heart of transnational problem-solving. Each member parliament will send delegates, ensuring inclusive and proportional representation with commitments to gender balance and immunity protections. Leaders emphasized its potential to boost transparency, strengthen parliamentary oversight, and create people-centered governance. If effectively implemented, this assembly could serve as a prototype for grassroots regionalism across Africa—elevating civic voices, standardizing policy, and giving the Mano River Basin a unified legislative identity.