2 July 2009
The Charge d'Affaires en Pied at the Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madam Nena Marie Helene Okitundu Ayaki has said that the people of Liberia and DR Congo have many things in common such as names of persons and places as well as their eating habits.
"Names such as Kollie, Kiazulu, Mobutu and Tamba, and places such as Congo Town, Mamba and Matadi are used in both countries where the two peoples also eat cassava, cassava leaves, potato greens, etc alike. We Congolese therefore feel at home in Liberia," she said.
Noting that that DR Congo and Liberia have had secular and fraternal relations existing long since the abolition of the slave trade, the Congolese envoy added that both countries also share a recent history characterized by civil wars and today they find themselves under United Nations peacekeeping operations and both needing reconstruction.
"All these common points must bring us together in order to exchange our experiences and it will help enrich us mutually," she observed.
Amb. Okitundu Ayaki spoke on June 30 at Mamba Point Hotel in Monrovia at a reception in observance of the 49th Independence Anniversary of her country, the Democratic Republic of Congo. He told the agathering that the DR Congo was declared the third republic three years ago and by promulgating a new constitution President Joseph Kabila Kabange launched a socio-economic project within the national reconstruction program that outlined five priorities including electricity and water; education; housing; infrastructure; and, health.
"The signing of a mining contract by the Government of the DR Congo with the Government of the People's Republic of China has been wrongly understood by the Breton Woods institutions while there is space for all foreign investors in the DR Congo," she noted.
"Another major factor that has undermined the Government's intervention program is the conflict in the east of the DR Congo which has taken a heavy toll in human lives, and displaced the population massively. We cannot stop to deplore the flagrant violation of humanitarian law and human rights, and the violence perpetuated against women and children by the different armed factions."
She said her mission was monitoring ongoing reforms in Liberia with interest and welcomed the reconstruction efforts by the leadership of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. "We extend our congratulations for her dedicated and tenacity in rebuilding Liberia," she noted.
"As we celebrate today June 30, the 49th Independence Anniversary of our Country, the greatest hope we express is that peace and security reign forever in DR Congo and Liberia," she concluded.
Also making remarks on behalf of the Government of Liberia, Vice President Joseph N. Boakai concurred with the Congolese envoy applauding the long cordial and fraternal relations that has persisted between DR Congo and Liberia.
"In fact late Congolese President Mobutu was an honorary citizen of Liberia and, Kakata, the capital city of Margibi County was named after a Congolese called Kaka," the VP said.
Vice President Boakai said Congolese residing in Liberia are law abiding and said the Liberian Government would continue to provide protection for them and all other foreign residents in Liberia, and urged them to continue to conduct their normal activities freely in Liberia within the confines of the laws of the country.
On the conflict in DR Congo, Vice President Boakai said the Government of Liberia supports the policy of dialogue. While the Congolese envoy earlier called for observance of one minute silence in memories of Congolese national heroes including the first Prime Minister Patrice Emery Lumumba, the Vice President of Liberia, on his part, called for equal ritual in memory of the distinguished Liberian woman, D. Musuleng Cooper, who passed away.
The event was attended by members of the Liberian Legislature, Cabinet, diplomatic corps, Congolese community and friends of DR Congo, among them the Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of the United Nations Mission in Liberia Margret Loj, Foreign Minister Obubanke King-Akerele, Education Minister Dr. Joseph Korto, Nimba County Senator Aldophus Dolo, Maryland County Senator Gloria Scott.
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