THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2016

News of Liberia’s resumption of diplomatic relations with the Government of National Accord of Libya, the meeting between Guinea Bissau’s Prime MinisterUmaro El MokhtarSissocoEmbalo and President  Ellen Johnson Sirleaf  and President Sirleaf reaffirmation of her support to the candidacy of her Vice President are among stories dominating today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES  

Liberia, Resume Diplomatic Ties 

The Heritage newspaper reports that the Government of the Republic of Liberia and the Government of National Accord of Libya have resumed diplomatic relations between their two countries. According to a Foreign Ministry release, Liberia’s intention to restore diplomatic relations with Libya is in the spirit of the Malabo Declaration of November 2016 and the cordial ties that existed between the two Governments over the years.The Liberian Government severed diplomatic relations with Libya on June 14, 2011.Earlier, in a Diplomatic Note to his Liberian counterpart, Foreign Minister Marjon V. Kamara, the Minister of Foreign Minister of Libya, His Excellency Mr. Mohamed El TaherSeyala, stated that Ambassador Talbi was sent to Liberia based on a conversation held with the President of Liberia, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, on the margins of the African Union Extraordinary Summit on Maritime Safety and Security and Development, that convened in Lomé, Togo, last October. Predicated on his discussion with the Liberian President, Foreign Minister Seyala is quoted as saying, in his communication to Foreign Minister MarjonKamara, that “Special Envoy Talbi is authorized to conduct all necessary arrangements to reopen our embassy in Monrovia.”

Related Captions: Liberia, Libya Resume Diplomatic Ties(In Profile Daily), Liberia, Libya Resume Diplomatic Ties(The INQUIRER)

Pres. Sirleaf Receives Guinea Bissau PM

The Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority and President of Liberia, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has received in audience and welcomed the appointment of Prime Minister, Mr. Umaro El MokhtarSissocoEmbalo of Guinea Bissau in furtherance of resolving the political issues that have paralyzed the West African nation. President Jose Mario Vaz recently made the appointment following the dissolution of the government. Quoting an Executive Mansion release, the New Dawn newspaper said, President Sirleaf used the occasion to reassure Prime Minister Embalo of her commitment to the national reconciliation and development effort of Guinea Bissau, adding, “We have been waiting for this appointment and now that it has been made, I told the President he can depend on me as the current Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority for the necessary support aimed at promoting the development of his country”. She then congratulated Prime Minister Umaro El MokhtarSissocoEmbalo for his preferment and encouraged him to serve his people as well as continue on the path of peace and reconciliation. Responding, Prime Minister Embalo commended President Sirleaf for her leadership role played and lauded her efforts in supporting peace and reconciliation in Guinea Bissau. He promised to continue to hold consultations and will count on the advice of President Sirleaf in the discharge of his duties and responsibilities.

Related Captions: Ellen Receives New Guinea Bissau Prime Minister…Pledges Support(Heritage), Guinea Bissau Prime Minister Visits Liberia(In Profile Daily)

Ellen Reassures Veep Boakai

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has reaffirmed her support to the candidacy of her Vice President, Joseph Boakai despite report that she is supporting another candidate in the 2017 Presidential and Legislative Elections. Speaking at ceremonies marking the reaffirmationof the petition by the people of Lofa County to the Vice President on May 22, 2015, at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium yesterday, the Liberian Leader said she will stand with Amb. Boakai as he seeks the presidency of Liberia. The President who could not spend much time at the program due to her travel engagement reaffirmed her support to the candidacy of Vice President Joseph Boakai and urged UP Partisans to support her Deputy, the INQUIRER newspaper reads.

Related Caption: Ellen Congratulates VP Boakai @72(In Profile Daily),Ellen Makes Case For Boakai(The New Dawn)

I Will Put Liberia First When Elected President Boakai Vows

A front page story of the Heritage newspaper reads that Liberia’s Vice President and standard bearer of the ruling Unity Party (UP) ,Amb. Joseph N. Boakai, has profound loyalty and humility to serve the people of Liberia if elected President in 2017. Liberians are expected to go to the polls on October 10 of next year to elect a new President, a new Vice President and 73 Representatives, who will steer the affairs of the nation for the next six years. Vice President Boakai, who received a statement of affirmation for his presidential bid on Wednesday, November 30, 2016 at programs marking his 72^nd birth anniversary, said he is ready to pay back by providing good leadership come 2017.

Related Caption: Not About Me, But Liberia’- Veep Boakai Tells Liberians At His 72nd Birthday Celebration(Daily Observer)

Former Speaker Tyler Back At The Capitol

After several months of being absent from sessions, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, J. Alex Tyler has returned to session for the first time since he recused himself and later removed by his colleagues as Speaker. Speaking to reporters yesterday at the Capitol Building, Representative Tyler expressed happiness to have returned back to session to serve his people though he has no office at the Capitol Building to work from, the INQUIRER daily says.

Related Captions: Tyler Returns With Humble Pie-Delayed In Getting Office Space, The Ex-Speaker Says He Doesn’t Have “Problem” If Given An Office Near A Bathroom(Daily Observer), Tyler Complains(The New Dawn)

OTHER STORIES

President Departs For Accra, London, Abuja

According to the In Profile Daily, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has departed the country on a three-leg foreign tour that begins on November 30-December 6, 2016 will see her participating in a number of events on Accra, London, and Abuja and Abuja respectively in the interest of the country and sub-region. According to an executive Mansion release, the Liberian leader’s first stop will be in Accra, Ghana to participate as Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority, in a one-day meeting aimed at denouncing violence during the elections in Ghana, which are scheduled for December 7.  President Sirleaf will later proceed to London where she is expected to participate in a fundraiser for the education sector in Liberia.  The last leg of the visit will pertain to role as Chairperson of ECOWAS Authority during which she will pay a two-day working visit to Abuja, Nigeria where she will acquaint herself with the activities and functions of the ECOWAS Commission.

Related Caption: Pres. Sirleaf Begins Regional Tours(The INQUIRER)

VP Boakai Launches HIV/AIDS Testing Campaign

Vice President Joseph Boakai recently launched the “know your status campaign” in collaboration with the National AIDS Commission. The exercise is part of efforts to decrease the prevalence of people living with HIV/AIDS.The campaign aimed at getting people to know their HIV status through counseling and testing is expected to reach 280,000 people in Montserrado, Margibi and Grand Bassa, the three counties with the highest prevalence rates.The counseling and testing of people will be conducted at most health centers, clinics and hospitals free of charge.After launching the campaign in the borough of New Kru Town last weekend, VP Boakai spoke of the significance of the campaign, not only for the national response to HIV/AIDS, but also to the national healthcare delivery system.He said HIV/AIDS has continued to be a major public health issue claiming the lives of more than 90,000 people over the last two decades.He urged Liberians to make maximum use of laboratory diagnostic surveillance systems as the virus remains one of the leading causes of death among young people, reports the Daily Observer.

House Approves US$10M Loan For Urban Water Supply

Members of the 53rd House of Representatives have ratified a US$10 million financial agreement which was signed between Liberia and the International Development Association to increase access to pipe borne water supply services to 12 communities in Monrovia and its environs. The agreement is to also improve the operational efficiency of the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC). The decision was taken Wednesday, November 30, during the 7th Day Sitting of the 2nd Special Session of the 53rd Legislature. According to the Daily Observer, in Wednesday’s session, the House ratified the US$10 million financial deal due to a report submitted by the Joint Committee from State Enterprises, Public Autonomous Commissions and Agencies, Ways, Means, Finance and Development Planning, Public Utilities and Judiciary. In the Joint Communication, Rep. Garrison Yealue, Chairman on the Committee on State Enterprises, Public Autonomous Commissions and Agencies, said about 600,000 people will benefit from the Urban Water Supply; 10,000 houses will be connected, and 1,000 youth are expected to be employed in the project areas. He also stated that 120 schools will be connected, including 45 health centers where water-borne diseases will be reduced considerably.

Paynesville Admitted To ‘100 Resilient Cities’

According to the Daily Observer, the City of Paynesville, outside Monrovia, has been admitted to the group of 100 Resilient Cities (100RC) pioneered by the Rockefeller Foundation and dedicated to helping member cities around the world become more resilient to physical, social, and economic challenges of the 21st Century.At a one-day workshop at the Paynesville City Hall Wednesday, 100RC Associate Director, Ms. Liz Agbor-Tabi, presented a plaque of acceptance to Mayor Cyvette Gibson, and welcomed the City of Paynesville as its newest member.

Related Caption: Resilient City Platform Gains More Momentum Here(Heritage)

Bayjay Sparks Grand Bassa's Title Defense With Sticker Donation

The FrontPage Africa newspaper reports that the Minister Counselor for Press and Public Affairs at the Liberian Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria, Mr. Nat Bayjay, a son of Grand Bassa County, has donated 3,000 stickers as his personal contribution towards the county’s 2016-2017 County Meet campaign. With the inscriptions: ‘I support Grand Bassa County’s third straight Count Meet success -  operation ‘kpa for’ (carry for good)”, the stickers display pictures of the county’s 2015 winning team, the formal presentation of the trophy by Vice President Joseph Boakai and Bayjay sporting a Bassa jersey. Mr. Bayjay who is an ex-officio of the Grand Bassa County 2013-2014 Mobilization Committee said he was making the initial contribution of the 3,000 stickers as a way of encouraging all Bassa-speaking citizens, regardless of their status, to support the county’s third straight victory. He made two separate presentations on Tuesday, November 29 in the county. According to the daily, a third straight win for the county will allow them to keep the trophy in accordance with normal international football practice.

Related Caption: Bayjay Sparks Grand Bassa’s Title Defense With Sticker Donation(Heritage)

Representative Mulbah Meets High Power Guinean Parliamentarians

Bong County District #3 Representative GeorgeMulbah has held discussions with a high power Guinean Parliamentarians delegation including six lawmakers led by the  1^st Vice President of the Guinean parliament, with the hope of forming a close tie between parliamentarians from the four Mano River Union Countries-Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Ivory Coast. During the meeting held at the Guinean Parliament Tuesday in the office of Speaker Claude Kory Kondiano , Representative Mulbah said the 53^rd National Legislature of Liberia has started the process of spearheading the establishment of a Mano Union Parliament, a parliamentarian association that will bring together lawmakers from the four countries to discuss common issues- trade, development, transportation, health and other issues affecting the region that require legislation, the FrontPage Africanewspaper reads.

ECOWAS Urges Member States… Accede APRM – Africa’s Governance Program

The four countries in the West African sub-region yet to accede to the Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) initiative have been urged to do so, as the APRM is a great tool for good governance that can sped up their development. Mr. AlassaneDiamouténé, Chief of Staff of the Office of the Minister of Integration of Ivory Coast made the call recently at the start of a two-day West Africa Regional Workshop on the Africa Peer Review Mechanism in the Ivorian Capital, Abidjan, reports the in Profile Daily.

MICAT Deputy Designate Appointment Withdrawn…For 2011 General Elections Result Dilemma

According to In Profile Daily, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has withdrawn the appointment of the Deputy Minister for Public Affairs designate at the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism (MICAT) Atty. Bobby Livingstone. In a communicate to members of the Liberian Senate sitting in plenary, President Sirleaf communicated that his appointment was withdrawn due to his proven “damaging mistake” in the release of the results between the Unity Party (UP) and the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC).

President Sirleaf Tours Exxon Mobil Offshore Platform

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has toured the Mobile Offshore Drilling Units of ExxonMobil positioned at Oil Block-13. According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf along with delegation was air-lifted from the James Spriggs Payne Airport in Sinkor Monrovia to West Saturn offshore platform where exploratory drilling is ongoing. During the guided tour, President Sirleaf received briefings and interacted with personnel working on the offshore platform, reports the In Profile Daily.