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| NEWS ARTICLE |
| Pres. Kabbah Reminds Pres. Johnson-sirleaf |
| BY: Analyst Thursday, July 27, 2006 |
“Today, I bring you greetings from a young Sierra Leone, only 49 years of age as an Independent Sovereign State to have 159 years of age
as a sister, the Republic of Liberia,” this is how Sierra Leonean Pres. Ahmed Tejan Kabbah referred to the cordial bonds between the two
nations.
• President A. T. Kabbah
The Sierra Leonean head of state reflected on the commonality of natural embodiments of the two countries when he spoke at programs
marking the official celebration of the National Independence Day of Liberia yesterday at the Centennial Pavilion on Ashmud Street.
He recognized that Liberia and Sierra Leone have common border, people of the same ethnic group, and that there are members of the
Mano River Union.”
Besides these natural pleasantries which have far reaching effects, he hinted an addendum: a common experience of a bitter and
devastating conflict.
According to the Sierra Leonean head of state, the new experience between the two countries should strengthen the ties that bind “us
together.”
The side effects of the years of bitterness did not slip the attention of President Kaba, especially remarks he made some times as well as
President Sirleaf pledge of assurance that Liberia will not be used to conspire another country.
“It is no coincidence that that approximately seven years after our bitter experience, I told a huge international gathering in Jordan about the
resilience of the people of Sierra Leone, and their unlimited faith.
And five years later after I spoke to a group of religious leaders from Ivory Coast, Guinean, Liberia and Sierra Leone, about our resilience
and about how he have been deeply troubled and challenged by a bitter civil war. You, Madam President, in your inaugural address last
January also described personally, but confidently that Liberians are a strong and resilient people,” he said.
He told his Liberian counterpart that the people of Sierra Leone share her “aspiration that the two peoples will rise from the ashes of
protracted internal devastating conflict.”
He said President Sirleaf has opened a brand new chapter in the history of Liberia and Africa, and that her ascendancy represents “a new
beginning for the people of the Mano River Union (MRU) and Africa.”
He however reminded the Liberian leader of her solemn pledge which according to him relieved his people. The people of Sierra Leone are
relieved and are with great expectation by Madam Sirleaf’s solemn pledge that under your administration “no inch of Liberian soil will be used
to conspire or perpetrate aggression against your sisterly republics.”
He termed the Liberian leader assurance as “one of most profound assurances that the people of Sierra Leone have received in the last two
decades”. President Kaba also referred to it as a message of peace and good neighborliness, a message of commitment to the restoration of
stability and economic integration in the MRU and West Africa sub-region.
“The best gift Sierra Leonean can give to their sisters and brothers of Liberia on this 159th Anniversary of Independence is a pledge; a
pledge that we Sierra Leonean shall not only regard you as neighbor, but treat you as member of the family.
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