Liberia Joins ECOWAS Border Talks in The Gambia to Strengthen Regional Cooperation

Monrovia’s participation in the three-day meeting focuses on boundary management, peaceful coexistence, cross-border development and regional integration.

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By Gerald C. Koinyeneh

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MONROVIA — Liberia is participating in the Third Annual Meeting of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of National Boundary Commissions in Banjul, The Gambia, as regional governments seek to strengthen border management, deepen cooperation and promote peaceful coexistence across West Africa.

The meeting, which runs from October 6 to 8, 2026, brings together heads of national boundary commissions and representatives of border governance institutions from ECOWAS member states to discuss shared boundary issues and strategies for improving regional coordination.

According to a press release from Liberia’s Ministry of Local Government, the country is represented by D. Emmanuel Wheinyue, Assistant Minister for Research, Policy and Planning and Chair of the Liberia Technical Border Committee.

The committee is a multisectoral body comprising 15 government institutions responsible for addressing border management, boundary governance and cross-border cooperation. It serves as Liberia’s principal technical platform for coordinating border-related policies and engagements with neighboring countries.

Regional Cooperation on Border Governance

The annual meeting was institutionalized in 2024 under the African Union–ECOWAS–West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) coordination framework to strengthen collaboration among national and regional institutions responsible for border governance.

The gathering provides a platform for member states to exchange experiences, assess progress on existing initiatives and identify practical responses to emerging challenges affecting border communities and regional integration.

During the three-day meeting, participants are expected to review recommendations adopted at the Second Meeting of ECOWAS Heads of National Boundary Commissions, held in Cotonou, Benin, in 2025.

They will also assess ongoing national, bilateral and regional border governance programs and explore approaches to boundary delimitation, demarcation and reaffirmation, as well as development initiatives in communities along shared borders.

Discussions are further expected to address mechanisms for strengthening cooperation among ECOWAS member states and regional institutions.

Liberia Highlights Border Management Priorities

Liberia’s participation comes as the country engages in regional efforts to improve the coordination of border policies and cooperation with neighboring states.

Through the Liberia Technical Border Committee, the government coordinates the work of relevant institutions on boundary governance and cross-border issues.

The Ministry of Local Government said Liberia’s participation reflects the government’s commitment to effective border management, regional peace and security, and sustainable development in border communities.

Effective border governance can support peaceful relations between neighboring countries, facilitate cross-border movement and cooperation, and help communities address issues arising from shared boundaries.

The meeting also offers Liberia an opportunity to exchange experiences with other ECOWAS member states and contribute to regional discussions on boundary management and development.

ECOWAS, AU and WAEMU Institutions Participate

The meeting is organized by the ECOWAS Commission through its Directorate of Free Movement of Persons, Migration and Tourism.

Participants include representatives of the ECOWAS Commission, the WAEMU Commission, the African Union Border Programme and development partners supporting border governance initiatives across West Africa.

Their participation is intended to strengthen coordination between national authorities and regional institutions working to improve border management and advance regional integration.

The Ministry of Local Government said Liberia would continue to support ECOWAS initiatives aimed at strengthening cross-border cooperation, improving the management of shared boundaries and promoting sustainable development in border communities.