Mano River Women's Peace Network


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	Letter from Macenta MARWOPNET commemorates the reconciliation between Mano River heads of state by Miss Sarankale Béreté
	As one of MARWOPNET’s newest members, it was a great pleasure and honor to be a part of a five-person delegation sent from Conakry to Macenta, in Guinea’s forest region, to celebrate MARWOPNET Day, July 24^th. This event commemorates the day in 2001 when General Lansana Conte, President of Guinea, agreed to return to the negotiating table with his fellow heads of state in Sierra Leone and Liberia. This reconciliation was thanks to the persuasive lobbying efforts of a MARWOPNET delegation representing members from all three countries. Parade of women’s groups in Macenta Coming into Macenta, we were awed by the magnificent chain of mountains surrounding the city as if to protect her from outsiders. Yet far from being treated like strangers, we were welcomed by a huge, exhilarated crowd made up of all kinds of women’s groups from the area, singing, dancing and chanting for us. Herve de Bailleux, country director of the International Rescue Committee, Abdoulaye Sougoule, coordinator of the U.S. Embassy’s Democracy and Human Rights Fund in Guinea, and other visiting dignitaries had also come from afar to celebrate this occasion with MARWOPNET. Even women from neighboring villages of Liberia such as Woizama came to participate in the ceremonies, demonstrating the links of peace that have been established along the borders, replacing the aggression and mistrust of the past. Children recite a poem for peace During the ceremony, Mr. Sougoule announced that the U.S. Embassy would be granting $10,000 to the Macenta office to conduct a conflict resolution training project to help resolve tensions between two local ethnic groups, and also eventually to provide assistance for office equipment and other basic needs. ______ ___ _Bird feather dance of the Toma people	Visit with military officers at Massadou, the site of rebel attacks in 2000 After a short lunch break, we headed up to Massadou, a village near the Liberian border, seven miles from the city of Macenta. Rebels attacked Massadou in 2002, killing 43 people. After a welcome speech from the prefect, we visited the common graves to pray for the souls of these murdered citizens. We congratulated and encouraged the armed forces there, who had helped to keep the peace after the attacks. We ended the day with a dinner at the prefect’s house and more artistic demonstrations. Every ethnic group – whether Toma , Tomamania, or Foullah -- wanted to play for us. Even though we were exhausted, we managed to entertain with each one of them, so as not to offend anyone. A traditional Toma women’s dance This celebration confirmed that what we are fighting for every day — the prevention and resolution of conflicts and maintenance of peace in the sub-region — is working. For myself personally, as a new member of MARWOPNET, it reinforced the reasons why I have joined this women’s organization. k ____Girls present an offering of kola nuts _

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