MRU WOMEN ON PEACE, UNITY OVERTURES
By Mensiegar Karnga, Jr.

July 15, 2004 - (The Analyst) The 14 years civil conflict did not only sour the human relationship among Liberians but did similar things in neighboring countries of the Mano River Union (MRU).

With the seeming end of the civil conflict and the restoration of peace in the country, women from the three MRU Countries, which includes Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea are taking bold steps to preach the gospel of peace, unity and reconciliation. At present, a reconciliation conference is taking place at the Corina Hotel. It is being held under the auspices of the Mano River Peace Network with the theme "Breaking the Cycle of Conflict and Promoting an Enabling Environment for Peace and Unity.

The conference, which got underway July 13 is expected to end on the 16th brought together over more than 100 women from the three countries.

Addressing the opening ceremony, the First Lady of Liberia, Mrs. Rose-Lee Bryant said women in the MRU have not been enjoying peace because of conflict that engulfed it.

According to her, this is the time for all women to hold together because of their uniqueness to society.

She added: "Women are the flag bearers for the promotion of peace world wide." The Liberian transitional First Lady then called on the women to forget about the past and design programs that will totally bring peace to the sub-region.

The head of the Guinean delegation, Madam Fatu Keita, also Executive Director of the Women NGO in Guinea (COFEG) narrated that there was compelling need to re-unite the three sisterly nations so as to enable their peoples once again enjoy what she termed "Economic Glory." She averred that in the absence of these, international trade will always take negative trends.

For her part, Madam Madintu Kamara, head of the Sierra Leone delegation, said it is now time that women play a leading role in fostering peace, unity and reconciliation in the sub-region.

She noted: "It is now time that our people preach the bases of forgiveness, adding "it is through forgiveness and tolerance that the sub-region can once again become a better place to live.

Chief Mediator of the Conference, Dr. Ndongo Oumar, Director of the Mano River Peace Forum in Sierra Leone also stressed the need for an "All Mano River Peace Conference" with the aim of trashing out differences and re-uniting the peoples for the betterment of the union.

He added that the people of the MRU countries must now say good bye to conflict and say yes to peace.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/200407150697.html