BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY, March 17, 2016

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s visit to La Cote d'Ivoire to deliver the Keynote Address at the 14th Replenishment Convocation of the African Development Bank in Abidjan, coupled with President Ouattara’s position calling for a collaborative efforts among countries and international partners aimed at enhancing cooperation for the fight against terrorism are stories dominating today’s edition of the summary of the local dailies.

The summary also highlights news of President Johnson Sirleaf’s message of congratulations to the Government and People of the Republic of Ireland on the occasion commemorating St. Patrick’s Day.

DOMINANT STORIES

Standing Up Against Terror: Ivory Coast Vows Fight Back

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who is in La Cote d'Ivoire to deliver the Keynote Address at the 14th Replenishment Convocation of the African Development Bank (ADB) in Abidjan, took some time to show 'Solidarity & Sympathy' with those who lost their lives in Sunday’s beachside resort attack which the terror group, Al Qaeda has claimed responsibility. The ADF-14 Negotiations seek to share the important developmental role that the African Development Bank (AfDB), through the African Development (ADB), continues to play on the continent, and how crucial it is for the Fund to sustain its valuable assistance to Africa.   President Sirleaf will deliver the Keynote Address at the 14th Replenishment Convocation of the African Development Bank in Abidjan. The AfDB is a key partner in Liberia's reconstruction drive. The President concluded her visit with a bilateral meeting with President Ouatarra at the Presidency.  According to Information Minister Lenn Eugene Nagbe, President Sirleaf also visited the coastal resort of Grand Bassam, the scene of the attack where she expressed deep sadness over the horrific incident and expressed sympathy to the people of La Cote D'Ivoire and other countries whose citizens lost their lives in the attack. 

 The President deposited a wreath at the Etoile du Sud Hotel, alongside wreath previously deposited by Ivorian President Alasanne Ouatarra.  In a statement President Ouattara said the Ivory Coast will not allow itself to be intimidated by terrorists". "Ivory Coast is standing up, standing up to fight the cowards and protect its people." He vowed to work with countries in the region, the continent and with other international partners to reinforce cooperation to fight these terrorists, says the FrontPage Africa newspaper.

Related Caption: Prez. Sirleaf Attends ADF 1st Replenishment Meeting In Cote d’Ivoire (Daily Observer), Ellen Attends African Development Fund’s 1^st Replenishment Meeting In Cote d’Ivoire (Heritage). At the same time, France has said it will deploy a paramilitary police force in the capital of Burkina Faso to react quickly in the event of new attacks by Islamist militants in West Africa. The move comes two days after gunmen opened fire at an Ivory Coast beach resort killing 18 people, including four French citizens. Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) said it carried out the assault. Militants have also launched attacks in Burkina Faso and Mali recently. French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve made the announcement on a visit to Abidjan to show France’s support for Ivory Coast. He was joined by Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault. “The desire to position this (gendarmerie) team in Ouagadougou is to enable us to immediately dispense advice and co-ordinate other actions in the event of a terrorists crisis,” Mr. Cazeneuve said, as reported  by the Heritage newspaper under the caption “Following Attack In Ivory Coast: Deployment Of French Reaction Force Underway.”

CEMESP Raise Eyebrows In FOI, FOE Downward Trends

The Center for Media Studies and Peace building, (CEMESP) has noted with dismay the progressive slide in Liberia’s Freedom of Information and Freedom of Expression as a troubling development for civil liberties. CEMESP’s Executive Director Malcolm Joseph says the trend does not bode well for the consolidation of the fragile peace at this time when UNMIL Peacekeepers are working on a final drawdown plan. Malcolm Joseph has especially raised the caution that there is a connection between building a democracy on the foundation of openness, accountability and free speech and the maximization of growth and development that sustains peace. CEMESP is thus imploring all and sundry to deplore the confrontational posturing and return to basics- respecting democratic ethos that stress conscionable adherence to freedom of information and expression. CEMESP is concerned that the current mood of agitation and reactionary posturing from government, opposition political parties and self-styled human right activism, can only be self-serving for which reason moderation must be exercised by all involved, reports the New Dawn newspaper.

Related Captions: Liberia’s FOI, FOE Downward Trend…CEMESP Sends Note Of Caution (Heritage), CEMESP Criticizes Liberia Over FOI, FOE Downtrend (FrontPage Africa)

OTHER STORIES

Ellen Congratulates Ireland On St. Patrick’s Day

The Heritage newspaper reports: The President of the Republic of Liberia, Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has sent a message of congratulations to the Government and people of the Republic of Ireland on the occasion commemorating St. Patrick’s Day on March 17.  St. Patrick’s Day, or the Feast of St. Patrick is a cultural and religious celebration held on March 17, the traditional death date of St. Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland. In her message to her Irish counterpart, the Liberian leader extended on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia and in her own name, heartiest congratulations to the Government and peace-loving people of Ireland. According to a Foreign Ministry release, the Liberian leader expressed that it is with deep satisfaction that Liberia affirms its relations subsisting with Ireland continue to be marked by cordiality and genuine progress. “Therefore, as you celebrate this unique occasion, we in Liberia wish to assure you of our unflinching commitment to the deepening and enhancement of our already excellent ties in order to achieve our shared laudable goals,” President Sirleaf stated. She wished her counterpart continued good health and happiness, and for the Government and people of Ireland, sustained peace and prosperity.

Related Caption: President Sirleaf Salutes Ireland On St. Patrick’s Day (Daily Observer)

Lonestar Cell MTN Launches New Mobile Money Platform

Liberia’s leading cellular giant, Lonestar Cell MTN has upgraded its Mobile Money Financial Platform to effectively handle transactions in both United States and Liberian Dollars independently. A release from the company revealed that it will commence United Stated Dollars transaction on its Mobile Money Platform as soon as it receives approval from the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL). This new digital migration by Lonestar Cell MTN is a massive boost for the company and a sigh of relieve for customers who had long for the US Dollars’ component, alongside the Liberian Dollar. The Chief Executive Officer of Lonestar Cell MTN, Babatunde Osho, said “We are excited that the New Platform is robust and has the capability of delivering many financial services.

Related Caption: Lonestar Cell MTN To Transact Mobile Money In Dual Currency (Daily Observer)

Court Drops Charges Against 66 Alleged Loiterers

According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, the Monrovia City Court has ordered the immediate release of some 66 alleged loiterers who were forwarded to the court by officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP) on Wednesday. The daily asserts that Police charge sheet states that the alleged loiterers were arrested when the LNP launched a vigorous raid on ghettoes and abandoned booths in Monrovia and its environs. The Police said following the arrest of the defendants, they were well acquainted with their rights. The LNP stated that based upon the facts surrounding the circumstances of the allegation levied against the loiterers, they were charged with loitering, a violation of section 17.6 of the new penal law of Liberia. However, when the 66 alleged loiterers were taken to the Monrovia City Court at the Temple of Justice, they were ordered release by Magistrate Kennedy Peabody. This is the second time for the Monrovia City Court sitting in the Temple of Justice to release a group of loiterers who have been charged by the LNP and forwarded to court.

Related Captions: Police Release Loiterers (The New Dawn)

L$ 1M Bridge Project Gets Underway Citizens Hail district no. 14 Rep. Aspirant Muka-Kamara

A front page story of the Daily Observer reads that residents of Montserrado County Electoral District number 14 over the weekend broke ground for the construction of a wooden bridge that will link a Nigerian community called Abuja and Doe communities to Clara Town an as well as  the Freeport communities on the Bushrod Island in Monrovia. The bridge project is funded by the district representative hopeful Kerkula Muka-Kamara in the tone of L$ 1 million.  

To Adequately Train Medical Practitioners in Liberia, SGH to Partner with Dogliotti, Others

An inside story of the Daily Observer newspaper writes that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has called on Seed Global Health (SGH) to enter into an arrangement with the A.M. Dogliotti College of Medicine at the University of Liberia (UL) and other medical training institutions in the country to train medical practitioners who will improve health services in the country. SGH is a United States based organization that seeks to strengthen health education in countries, such as Liberia, challenged by a shortage of health professionals. SGH had earlier expressed interest in working with Liberia.

Liberian, Ghanaian Cultural Crossing Initiative Launched

Two internationally distinguished African Artists have a dream of introducing a new phenomenon that would engender African culture amongst artists (musicians, actors/actress, visual artist and others from countries around the continent). Liberian international Curator, Sarah Gusten-Marr and Sir Black (Kojo Yibor) have embarked upon an endeavor that intends to acquaint artists with the culture of their counterparts in other African countries, the Daily Observer newspaper writes.

MOH Introduces New Data System

The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare |Wednesday inaugurated the Electronic Disease Early Warning System (eDEWS) pilot, which is an open mobile-based interface for reporting from health facilities. The eDEWS server receives data and automatically analyzes it against alert thresholds to generate SMS alerts for rapid response teams and health authorities. It has a dynamic data visualization interface with built in GIS functionality. The eDEWS application is aimed at enhancing our disease surveillance information and response system by ensuring real time access to information about the occurrence or out break or disease and public health events of epidemic potential at all levels of intervention and reporting, the New Democrat newspaper writes.

Related Captions: Transport Ministry ‘Fraudsters’-Two Dismissed For Alleged Fraud (FrontPage Africa)

Boy, 17, Gets Life Sentence

The Eight Judicial Circuit Court in Sanniquellie, Nimba County has sentenced a 17-year-old boy to life imprisonment for killing his 16-year-old friend, Cephus Yeanwon. Convict Jacob Vanboe, a resident of Ganta City, in Nimba was sentenced after he cajoled his 16-year-old friend Cephus Yeanwon, a motorcyclist, to go for a ride with him along the Ganta-Saclepea Highway in Nimba County in order to get some palm wine, a locally produced beverage to drink when he murdered the victim and extracted parts from his body. The convict on September 22, 2015, conspired and murdered Cephus Yeanwon. Both Jacob Vanboe and the late Cephus Yeanwon were resident of the Royal Community in Ganta prior to his murder. The deceased corpse was dis