President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a Congratulatory Message to her colleague, the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, His Excellency Nicolas Maduro on that country’s 206^th Independence Anniversary.

Venezuela celebrates its Independence Day on July 5. On that day, the Venezuelan Declaration of Independence was adopted by a congress of Venezuelan provinces. Venezuela was the first independent state in South America.

In 1809, the Spanish American wars of independence began: Spanish colonies in South America struggled against the colonial rule. Uprisings in Venezuela were led by Francisco de Miranda who is now regarded as a forerunner of Simón Bolívar. After a series of uprisings, seven of the ten Venezuelan provinces separated from the Spanish Crown and declared their independence on July 5, 1811.

Although Venezuela became fully independent in the 1830s, it is the anniversary of the 1811 Declaration of Independence that is observed as Independence Day. This day is also celebrated as Armed Forces Day. On July 5, the entire National Armed Forces of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela are honoured.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, President Sirleaf, on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia and in her own name, extended warmest congratulations and best wishes to President Maduro, and through him the Government and people of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

The Liberian president said, “On this auspicious occasion, it is my desire that the excellent relations subsisting between our two countries and peoples will continue to flourish, as we work together to explore new areas of cooperation to ignite concrete outcomes out of our historic relations, for the betterment of our two peoples.”

She than prayed that President Maduro enjoys good health and happiness as he consolidates national peace and unity, and for the people of Venezuela, stability and prosperity.