President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a message of congratulations to the Government and people of the Kingdom of Tonga on the occasion marking the 46^th Independence Anniversary on June 4, 2016.

Tonga, officially known as the Kingdom of Tonga, is a Polynesian sovereign state and archipelago comprising 169 islands of which 36 are inhabited.June 4 is celebrated annually throughout the islands of the Kingdom as its Independence Day (also known as Emancipation Day). Tonga became fully independent from Britain in 1970, but had never relinquished its sovereignty to any foreign power. In 2010, Tonga took a decisive step towards becoming a fully functioning constitutional monarchy, after legislative reforms paved the way for its first partial representative elections.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, in her message to His Majesty King George Tupou VI, King of Tonga, the Liberian leader extended sincere felicitations to him and through him the people of the Kingdom of Tonga on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia and in her own name.

As both countries strive together in furtherance of the principles of the United Nations in promoting peace, security and cooperation among all nations, President Sirleaf prayed that the Almighty God will endow King Tupou VI with wisdom and strength as he leads his compatriots to greater prosperity.