Africa-Press – Liberia. Speaker Koon is reportedly the consensus candidate to lead the MRUPB, following months of internal negotiations and lobbying within the Mano River Union.
House Speaker, Richard Nagbe Koon, is expected to be elected as the first Speaker of the newly established Mano River Union Parliamentary Body (MRUPB), according to multiple diplomatic and legislative sources.
The official induction of the MRUPB is scheduled to take place in Monrovia from July 18 to 21. The event will bring together high-level delegations from the four Mano River Union member states—Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire—and marks the launch of a unified legislative body for the subregion.
Speaker Koon is reportedly the consensus candidate to lead the MRUPB, following months of internal negotiations and lobbying within the Mano River Union. Liberia, as host of the inaugural event, is playing a central role in the formation of the new institution.
The MRUPB is designed to strengthen democratic governance, uphold the rule of law, and increase parliamentary oversight across the MRU member countries. It will serve as a deliberative, consultative, and oversight organ of the Union, with full administrative and financial autonomy.
The structure allows each member country to be represented by between five and fifteen lawmakers from their respective national legislatures. This is intended to ensure balanced participation while respecting national representation frameworks.
If elected, Speaker Koon will serve a four-year term as the first head of the MRUPB. His expected election is being viewed as both a diplomatic success for Liberia and a significant milestone in his political career.
“This is a momentous development not only for the Speaker but also for Liberia’s regional standing,” said a senior legislative aide involved in the MRUPB process. “To have a Liberian lead such a body at its inception speaks volumes about the country’s commitment to subregional integration and democratic leadership.”
The creation of the MRUPB follows years of advocacy from MRU member governments and regional civil society organizations seeking a formal parliamentary platform to enhance accountability and cooperation.
The initiative was officially endorsed by MRU leadership earlier this year following a technical study that highlighted the potential benefits of the new body.
The MRUPB is expected to facilitate harmonization of legislation in areas such as trade, migration, security, and environmental policy across the Mano River Union zone.
Political observers say Koon’s anticipated leadership reflects Liberia’s growing role in regional diplomacy, especially as other MRU countries face domestic political transitions and uncertainty.
“Liberia, once a conflict zone, now hosting and likely leading the MRU’s first parliament sends a message that democracy and diplomacy are maturing in West Africa,” said a regional political analyst based in Abidjan.
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