Liberia Government (Monrovia)
10 January 2009
Monrovia — Libyan leader Colonel Muammer Gaddafi Saturday paid a courtesy call on Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf during a transit stopover at the Roberts International Airport in Harbel, Margibi County. At a brief airport ceremony, Liberian President Johnson Sirleaf, welcomed the Libyan leader and expressed hope that his visit will help strengthen the already strong bond of friendship between the two countries.
According to an Executive Mansion release, President Johnson Sirleaf and Colonel Gaddafi later discussed a wide range of issues including bilateral relations between the two countries, the recent military take over in neighboring Guinea and the Libyan leader's campaign for a united African Government, ahead of an African Union summit next month in Addis Ababa Ethiopia.
On the situation in Guinea, the Libyan leader spoke of his willingness to support efforts by regional leaders and other sub-regional bodies in finding a way forward to the political situation in that West African country. The Libyan leader said his country is prepared to support the consolidation of peace in the sub-region because it has witnessed turmoil for too long. He praised President Sirleaf's leadership and the resilience of the Liberian people to renew their country. Libya, Col. Gaddafi said, will remain supportive of the President Johnson Sirleafʼs efforts to improve the living standard of the countryʼs citizens and promote national development.
The Libyan leader renewed his Government's commitment towards the implementation of projects his country has agreed to undertake, including a rubber processing plant, a US $30-million dollars agriculture project and the renovation of the Hotel Africa facilities in Virginia, on the outskirts of Monrovia.
Col. Gaddafi and delegation were met upon arrival by senior Liberian government officials including members of the national legislature, traditional chiefs and elders, market women, cultural troops and other artists including traditional singing groups.
The Libyan leader and delegation departed Liberia late Saturday evening for Bamako, Mali in continuation of visits to a number of West African countries.
Colonel Gaddafi's last official visit to Liberia was 30-years ago when he attended a summit meeting of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) held in Monrovia in 1979.
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Gaddafi is one of those leaders who talks the walk of a United African government but doesn't walk the talk of promoting legitimate and good govervance.
He has been a prince of coups d'etat all of over Africa.
In Uganda, one time he supported Idi Amin. After his troops were defeated in the green and lush forests of Uganda (they were used to fighting in the desert), in the ensuing civil between the people who defeated Amin, he turned around and supported Museveni who also fought against his troops (and Idi Amin).
He's been all over the map globally and continental Africa, especially awash with his new found petro-dollar wealth.
Africans may want one government but do they really want such a government led by the likes of Gaddafi ?
It is unfortunate that such this man, a self-proclaimed uniter ( one of very few that is bold enough to believe that Africa, plagued with political cronism and massive corruption can function under one government) is doing everything to achieve the exact opposite of unification.
The latest charge is the nonfatal coup in Guinea. He may not have helped to organize it, but there are incriminating opinions out of Nigeria that he,alone with Senegal, are providing help to the coup plotters. This is not how to foster unification; you dont destroy democracies!
Personally, I appreciate the Libyan leader's face-saving commitment to Liberia; he owes it to the Liberian people because he helped to destroy their lives and their country by training, arming and dispatching the utimate destroyer-in-chief (Taylor)to do the dirty work. Indeed, he needs to do a lot more; he can not and should not sweep his woes towards Liberians under the carpet, figuratively speaking, by throwing crumps their way.