Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia Agree to Address Armed GroupsMinisters from Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia Wednesday agreed to address the activity of armed groups fighting along the junction of their borders in the sub-region, according to reports reaching here from Monrovia.Foreign Minister Ramadan Dumbuya of Sierra Leone, Mahawa Bangoura of Guinea and Monie Captan of Liberia held the talks in Monrovia to prepare a summit meeting among the three countries. The three ministers said in a joint statement that they had agreed to "foster good neighborliness, bearing in mind the interest of their countries as well as the historical links that bind their peoples." They also ensured that they will map out a timetable for the regional summit as soon as possible. The three members of the Mano River Union, which was set up in 1973 designed to promote cooperation and economic development, have been involved in intensifying cross-border conflicts since 1990s. Sierra Leone and Guinea blamed that Liberia is going on supporting for Sierra Leone rebels as well as armed rebel groups in Guinea. Liberia, in turn, accused the two neighboring countries of harboring dissidents in a bid to overturn the government. Meanwhile, the UN Security Council has imposed the fierce sanctions on Liberia, saying that it is involved in gun-running and diamond smuggling with rebels of the Revolutionary United Front in Sierra Leone that has been fueling war in that country for a decade. |
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