For the first time in Liberia’s recent history, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, accompanied by fellow cabinet ministers and foreign ambassadors, conducted an extensive assessment tour on Monday, August 12, 2024. The delegation visited several key development projects across Bong and Margibi Counties, including the 500-acre Fuamah Rice Production Field, funded by the World Bank and the Government of Liberia; the EU-funded Human Rights project at the Margibi prison compound; a 200-acre cassava farm; and an Integrated Rice-Fish Farming initiative. The tour also featured Liberia’s first Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Center for Professional Training, Research, and Development (TCPTR) at the Booker Washington Institute (BWI) in Kakata, Margibi County.

The visit, which was attended by members of the European Union (EU) and various EU member states, was centered on evaluating the progress of these significant projects. Notably, the state-of-the-art technical trade shop, part of the EU-funded Youth Rising project, was a focal point of the tour. The Dean of the Cabinet led the delegation on a guided tour of the facilities, which mark the first phase of an ambitious initiative to modernize vocational and technical education in Liberia. Funded by the EU and implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the project aims to enhance the quality and relevance of vocational training by upgrading infrastructure and providing advanced equipment.

Foreign Minister Nyanti was joined by senior government officials, including the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. J Alexander Nuetah, Minister of Education, Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah, and Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Madam Gbeme Horace Kollie, Mr. Nathaniel T. Kwabo, Director-General of the Cabinet as well as the Deputy Information Minister, Mr. Daniel Sando.

During the visit, Foreign Minister Nyanti expressed deep gratitude to the European Union for its unwavering support in advancing Liberia’s TVET sector. She highlighted that the tour offered foreign ambassadors an invaluable opportunity to witness firsthand Liberia’s development progress and challenges, which could shape future international partnerships. “Our goal is to encourage continued investment and collaboration in Liberia by showcasing our development plans and clearly articulating our needs and strategies,” Minister Nyanti stated. “This visit allows our partners to see the tangible impact of ongoing efforts and explore ways to collectively advance Liberia’s development goals.”

The Cameroonian Ambassador to Liberia and Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps, Ambassador Beng’yela Augustine Gang, praised Minister Nyanti’s leadership in organizing this impactful visit. He noted that the initiative provided diplomatic representatives with a valuable firsthand experience of the realities in Liberia’s rural areas, further strengthening their understanding and engagement with the country’s development efforts. Several African ambassadors accredited near Monrovia were in attendance to include the Republic of Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire among others.

The BWI project is a cornerstone of the broader “Youth Rising” initiative, designed to reduce youth unemployment and stimulate economic growth by equipping young Liberians with essential skills for employment. This initiative plays a critical role in Liberia’s strategy to create job opportunities and build a skilled workforce. The visit underscored the ongoing collaboration between Liberia and the European Union in fostering sustainable development through education. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the successful continuation of the project, with Phase Two set to expand similar initiatives to other counties, thereby extending high-quality technical education to more young Liberians.

The participation of the Foreign Minister, alongside ambassadors and senior government officials, highlights the crucial role of international cooperation in achieving Liberia’s national development goals. The anticipated Phase Two of the Youth Rising project aims to replicate the successes of Phase One across Liberia, contributing to a more skilled and capable workforce, and a brighter future for the nation.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.

On 15 August 2024, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Arab Republic of Egypt, Sergei Terentiev, met with the Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation of Egypt, Alaa Farouk.

The parties discussed prospects for increasing bilateral trade in agricultural products, including supplies of Belarusian fodder to Egypt with the subsequent establishment of a fodder hub, as well as cooperation in mechanisation of the agricultural sector.

The parties discussed issues related to the preparation of the next meeting of the Belarusian-Egyptian working group on cooperation in agriculture.

The parties confirmed the agreements on ensuring unimpeded access of Belarusian dairy products to the Egyptian market. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus.

The Government appointed Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Anna-Kaisa Heikkinen to serve as Director General of the Department for Africa, the Middle East and Latin America for a fixed term from 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2028.

Heikkinen transfers to the post from her previous position as Head of Mission at Finland’s Embassy in Maputo. Prior to this, she worked as Head of Mission at the Representative Office in Ramallah in 2017–2020. Heikkinen has also held other positions, including as Special Adviser to the Prime Minister in International Affairs in 2014–2017. She has also worked at the Embassies of Finland in Moscow and New Delhi.

Heikkinen joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 2003. She holds a Master’s degree in social sciences.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland.

To mark Sierra Leone’s mission as West African Representative and President of the United Nations Security Council during the month of August 2024, the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, H.E. Rtd Brig. Julius Maada Bio launched Sierra Leone’s peace exhibition at the United Nations in New York on Monday 12 August 2024, in the presence of the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, H.E. Mrs Amina J. Mohamed.

The event was marked by goodwill messages from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sierra Leone, H.E. Alhaji Timothy Musa Kaba, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, H.E. Amina J. Mohammed, the ECOWAS Permanent Observer to the United Nations, Ambassador Kinza Jawara-Njai, the Representative of Mongolia to the United Nations, Ambassador A. Nyamdorj, Registrar of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, and the Director General of the International Campaign for Human Rights and Development.

On display throughout August 2024 in the United Nations building, this historic exhibition presents Sierra Leone’s remarkable journey towards peace, reconciliation, stability and development. It highlights the resilience, courage and unity of the people of Sierra Leone in the face of internal challenges and their unwavering commitment to sustainable development.

The exhibition also draws the world’s attention to the importance of international and regional cooperation for peace and security, highlighting in particular West Africa’s capacity to address regional challenges. It highlights the role of regional peace initiatives, in particular the ECOWAS conflict prevention, management and resolution mechanisms, in restoring order and stability to Sierra Leone through the valuable intervention of ECOMOG and its smooth transition to the UN peace support operation, UNOMSIL. The exhibition details the key contributions of these efforts to strengthening peace and stability in Sierra Leone.

In addition, the exhibition showcases key elements of Sierra Leone’s transitional justice process, including the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Special Court for Sierra Leone and the Monuments and Relics Commission. It highlights the collaboration between international partners and the government in building a new Sierra Leone that is peaceful, unified, democratic and dignified, sharing valuable lessons for maintaining peace and development around the world.

The event concluded with a reception hosted by H.E. Ambassador Michael Imran Kanu, Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to the United Nations.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).