Communities along the Liberia-Sierra Leone border have intensified efforts to prevent land and natural-resource disputes from undermining peace, with traditional leaders, women, youth and development partners calling for greater transparency, inclusion and community benefits in the management of shared resources.
The call, according to a release, came during a major dialogue for Peace, Land and Resource Governance and Community Benefits held along the banks of the Mano River in Kongo, Porkpa District, Grand Cape Mount County.
Convened under the Gola-REAP Project by TDS, the dialogue brought together residents of seven communities in Porkpa District and neighboring communities from Sierra Leone, creating a cross-border platform to discuss peaceful coexistence, land governance and the responsible management of natural resources.
Representatives of TDS, IOM and SCNL, including partners from Liberia and Sierra Leone, joined local and traditional authorities for the gathering, underscoring growing efforts to strengthen cooperation among communities sharing land, forests and other natural resources.
During the gathering, participants stressed that disputes over land and resources can threaten community stability if local people are excluded from decisions affecting their livelihoods as well as calling for transparent management systems that ensure communities have a meaningful voice and receive fair benefits from development and conservation initiatives.
For their parts, traditional leaders and elders reaffirmed their commitment to resolving disagreements peacefully and protecting longstanding relationships among communities on both sides of the Mano River.
Also, women and young people participated in the discussions, highlighting the importance of inclusive decision-making and ensuring that development priorities reflect the needs of all sections of the population.
Moreover, stakeholders at the gathering emphasized that sustainable peace cannot be separated from responsible land and resource governance, arguing that continued dialogue is essential to reducing tensions, building trust and preventing disputes from escalating into conflict.
Beyond the discussions, the event showcased traditional dances, music, storytelling and cultural exhibitions celebrating the heritage of Porkpa District and neighboring communities. Organizers said the cultural activities demonstrated the deep historical and social ties connecting communities across the Liberia-Sierra Leone border.
The dialogue concluded with renewed calls for continued engagement among communities, traditional authorities and development partners to strengthen peaceful relations and ensure that natural resources contribute to local development rather than become sources of conflict.
Organizers described the gathering as an important step toward building a people-centered system of land and resource governance in Porkpa District, with communities themselves playing a central role in protecting peace, managing shared resources and determining their development priorities.
