The President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Ould Abdul Aziz has rounded up his two-day visit to Liberia, climaxing it with a LD$37 million grant to help Liberia's Ebola fight.

President Aziz who is also the current Chairman of the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government was in Liberia on a solidarity two-day visit, following similar visit to the neighboring Republic of Guinea.

The Mauritanian leader was received upon arrival at the Roberts International Airport (RIA) outside Monrovia on Monday, January 5, 2015 by Vice President Joseph Boakai, Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, Defense Minister Brownie Samukai and Internal Affairs Minister Morris Dukuly and members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited near Monrovia.

Following an indoor discussion with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, both leaders held at joint media stakeout in the Foyer of the Foreign Ministry.

The Mauritanian leader assured Liberia of his government's continual support to work with Liberia to consolidate the relations between both countries.

President Aziz reiterated that the Ebola challenge being experienced by countries in the sub-region and by extension the region should consolidate the solidarity and mutual support to each other. Though he acknowledged that the virus has been a serious challenge, it was time for countries in the region to unite in battling the virus.

The Chair of the AU also expressed the AU’s commitment and support to President Sirleaf’s heroic fight against the Ebola virus disease. “You can count on the support of the AU and we are sure and certain that you will defeat this epidemic,” he said.

The Mauritanian President noted the serious losses that Liberia is experiencing in both human and economic terms due to Ebola and used the opportunity to express his heartfelt condolence to the Government and people of Liberia for the loss.

He expressed gratitude to the international community for the support provided Liberia and the other worst affected countries in fighting the Ebola virus disease and the AU for its assistance to the sub region in the Ebola fight.

The AU currently has several personnel working under the African  Union  Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA).

He expressed profound gratitude to the government and people of Liberia for the warm hospitality accorded him and his delegation during the two-day visit to Liberia.

Earlier, President Sirleaf who welcomed her Mauritanian counterpart recalled the relationship between both countries which predate Mauritanian’s independence.  She indicated that Liberia and Mauritania Heads of State have exchanged numerous visits as well as signed communiqués, cooperation agreements and protocols. “This visit gives us the opportunity to once again strengthen and deepen that relationship,” she stressed.

President Sirleaf particularly thanked the Mauritanian President for the leadership he has exhibited as current Chairman of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union and the personal effort made to mobilize resources to support the three countries worse affected by the Ebola virus disease.

“As a result, we now have 30 African health workers working with Liberia against the Ebola disease as well as received finance that have been mobilized by the AU,” she recalled.

On behalf of the Government and people of Liberia, President Sirleaf thanked the Mauritanian President for the bilateral support his government provided Liberia through a Memorandum of Understanding in the fight against Ebola. “Thank you so much for the support,” the Liberian leader said.

As part of the visit, at the C. Cecil Dennis Auditorium, both Liberia’s President Sirleaf and Mauritanian President H.E. Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, witnessed the signing of an agreement between both governments for the provision of LD$37 million grant to assist in the fight against the Ebola virus disease.

The Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Mr. Amara Konneh signed on behalf of the Government of Liberia, while the Minister of Economic Affairs and Development, Mr. Sidi Ould Tah signed on behalf of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.

Later in the evening, President Sirleaf hosted a dinner in honor of the Mauritanian President at the Royal Grand Hotel.

The Mauritanian leader is expected to depart Liberia on Tuesday, January 6, for Sierra Leone in continuation of his visit to the three worse countries affected by the Ebola.