MANO River states sue for peace

A Joint Security Commission set up by Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone agreed on Thursday to security measures designed to lessen tensions and end fighting in these countries. At the end of its two-day meeting in Freetown, the commission recommended that all dissident and paramilitary forces in the subregion be arrested and turned over to authorities in their countries of origin. Moreover, the commission called on the three countries to implement a non-aggression and security treaty signed in Freetown on 20 November 1986. This treaty was crafted by the Mano River Union, an economic development block to which the three countries belong. The commission’s meeting was attended by ministers responsible for foreign affairs, security, internal affairs, defence and justice, as well as the secretary-general of the union. They agreed to frequent exchanges of security and intelligence information and to disarm all unauthorised groups. Hundreds of thousands of people have been made refugees or displaced in their own countries in 12 years of war in the area. The committee thus encouraged the Mano River Women Peace Network to continue its efforts to restore stability in the region and for states to create the conditions that would encourage refugees to return home. The Freetown talks were a follow-up to last week’s meeting of foreign ministers in Monrovia, Liberia. The committee is to reconvene in Conakry on 8 September, two days prior to another meeting of the foreign ministers. Hopes are that these talks could eventually lead to a peace summit, especially between presidents Lansana Conte of Guinea and Charles Taylor of Liberia. Each has accused the other of supporting dissidents trying to overthrow their governments. Both deny the charges.