CONAKRY – Liberia’s Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Richard Nagbe Koon, has met with Guinean President Mamadi Doumbouya in Conakry as part of ongoing high-level regional engagements aimed at strengthening cooperation among West African countries.
By: Trokon S. Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
The meeting took place during Speaker Koon’s official visit to Guinea, where he joined parliamentary leaders from Sierra Leone, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire for discussions centered on regional cooperation, parliamentary diplomacy, peace and security, economic integration, and development.
During the engagement, Speaker Koon stressed the importance of deepening bilateral and multilateral relations among members of the Mano River Union, particularly as efforts continue to institutionalize parliamentary cooperation within the sub-region.
The Liberian Speaker encouraged President Doumbouya to regard Liberian President Joseph N. Boakai as an elder brother and to work with him in a spirit of mutual respect and cooperation to preserve peace and strengthen relations between Liberia and Guinea.
Speaker Koon said the establishment of a Mano River Union parliamentary body provides an important platform for lawmakers from member states to strengthen legislative cooperation, exchange experiences, and collectively address challenges confronting citizens across the sub-region.
He emphasized that stronger parliamentary relations could complement diplomatic and governmental efforts by creating opportunities for legislators to work together on shared priorities, including regional integration, trade, infrastructure development, peace and security, and sustainable development.
The Speaker also highlighted the close historical, geographical, economic, and cultural ties linking Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Côte d’Ivoire, noting that such connections make stronger regional cooperation critical to the collective progress of the four countries.
He further underscored the role of parliamentary diplomacy in building trust among neighboring states, saying lawmakers have a responsibility to use their institutions to promote dialogue, strengthen relationships, and advance common interests.
The meeting, which was attended by senior parliamentary leaders from across the region, further underscored the growing role of parliamentary diplomacy in advancing regional integration and cooperation.
Speaker Koon is in Guinea as part of his broader official visit for the 2026–2027 Parliamentary Opening Session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Guinea. During the visit, he has been engaging Guinean authorities and regional parliamentary counterparts on matters of mutual interest.
The Liberian Speaker reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to working closely with neighboring countries and regional parliamentary institutions to promote peace, democratic governance, economic integration, and stronger cooperation for the benefit of citizens across West Africa.
