Guinean Ambassador accredited near Monrovia and Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps, H.E. Mr. Abdoulaye Dore, has on behalf of his Government expressed heartfelt condolence to the Government and people of Liberia for the death of the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and Chief of Staff to the President of Liberia, Dr. Edward B. McClain, Jr.

He extended his Government’s condolences during a courtesy call on Liberia’s Foreign Minister Marjon V. Kamara on Friday, August 12, 2016. 

According to a Foreign Ministry release, the two officials also exchanged views on critical bilateral issues as well as issues concerning the sub-region.

During his initial remarks, Ambassador Dore extended thanks and appreciation to Liberia’s Foreign Minister for the audience accorded him and expressed deepest condolences to the Government and people of Liberia for the sudden death of the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Dr. McClain,Jr., who passed in South Africa a fortnight ago.

Ambassador Dore also used the occasion to deliver a Special Message from the Guinean President, His Excellency Dr. Alpha Condé, in which he expressed heartfelt condolence to Foreign Minister Kamara, and through her, to the President of the Republic of Liberia, Her Excellency Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, on the sad news of the death of Dr. McClain.

The Guinean diplomat said President Condé received the death news of Dr. McClain with a heavy heart and therefore expressed profound regrets over his passing, stressing that the late presidential affairs minister was very instrumental in cementing the existing ties of friendship between him (President Condé) and President Sirleaf.

He told Foreign Minister Kamara that President Condé is deeply sadden by the death of Dr. McClain whom he knew personally, adding that the Government and people of Guinea are shocked about his demise and that in the Message to his Liberian counterpart, President Condé expressed deepest condolences to the State, especially the bereaved family for the irreparable loss. 

The Guinean envoy further stressed that the death of Dr. McClain is not just a loss to Liberia but to the entire ECOWAS sub-region, describing the late minister as a statesman who served his country and people with distinction.

The Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps added the vacuum created by the passing of  Dr. McClain will be felt  not only in Liberia but in entire sub-region and hoped that the exemplary life lived by the late McClain would be emulated by those left behind.

He expressed the hope that Liberia would find a good and perfect replacement of Dr. McClain. He further stated Dr. Edward McClain, while alive, distinguished himself as a public servant and his absence has created a big gap in the Liberian Government.

In brief response, Foreign Minister Kamara thanked Guinean Ambassador Dore for the kind words of condolence and comfort expressed to the Government and people of Liberia especially during this critical period when Liberia is mourning the loss of a great statesman. Minister Kamara said the death of Minister McClain has left a huge vacuum in the Liberian government.

She indicated that the late Dr. McClain served as a principal channel to many francophone countries and that President Sirleaf would be very grateful for the message of condolence and words of comfort sent by her Guinean counterpart as she looks forward to the cordial relationship between them to the end of her administration.   

Foreign Minister Kamara also told the Guinea Ambassador that the death of Dr. McClain has brought a huge loss to Liberia, adding that the late McClain lived an exemplary life that will forever be remembered.  “We regret that he didn’t live to see the end of this administration,” she stressed.

She told Ambassador Dore that the Government of Liberia will keep the Guinean Embassy and members of the diplomatic community informed about the funeral arrangements of the fallen Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, including the signing of the Book of Condolence in memory of the late Dr. McClain.