MONROVIA — Liberia’s special envoy for cultural and heritage diplomacy has been invited to the opening of a national memorial in Barbados honoring 570 enslaved West Africans buried at a former sugar plantation.

By Rodney D. Sieh

Ambassador Lorenzo Llewellyn Witherspoon received the invitation from the office of Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley for the Nov. 28 opening of the Ancestral Memorial to the Enslaved at Newton, outside the capital, Bridgetown. Guests must confirm attendance by Oct. 23.

“Being personally invited by Prime Minister Mottley to witness this historic event is an important honor for Liberia and me personally,” Witherspoon said.

The ceremony falls two days before Barbados marks 60 years of independence and five years as a republic.

The memorial stands beside the Newton Enslaved Burial Ground, believed to be the largest communal burial site of enslaved people in the Western Hemisphere. The remains were identified using LIDAR, a laser-mapping technology.

Designed by British-Ghanaian architect David Adjaye, the memorial draws on traditional African tombs, prayer sites and pyramids. Visitors enter through a dome of red earth housing exhibits on the slave trade, then climb a sugarcane-lined ramp to a mound holding 570 teak poles from Ghana, one for each person buried there. Each pole is topped with a brass plate angled toward the sun.

Adjaye’s firm says the design seeks to balance “the ancestors and the living, this world and the next.”

The memorial is the first phase of the Barbados Heritage District, announced in 2021 after the island removed the British monarch as head of state. The district is also planned to include a national museum, archives and a genealogical research institute.

Liberia’s ties to Barbados date to 1865, when Barbadian families sailed aboard the brig Cora and settled in Crozierville, outside Monrovia, at the invitation of the Liberian government. Their descendants became prominent in Liberian law, politics and media.

Witherspoon said research into his own Caribbean ancestry, which he began in 2019, led to a meeting with Mottley at her official residence, Ilaro Court, in 2020. She tasked him with organizing the 2024 Sankofa Pilgrimage, which brought more than 500 descendants of the Barbadian emigrants back to the island.

He also helped facilitate diplomatic relations between the two countries and a 2025 state visit to Liberia by Barbados President Sandra Mason.

The two countries signed visa waiver and political consultation agreements in March.

“Thanks to the visionary leadership of President Boakai, a 160-year hiatus in the relationship between Barbados and Liberia has been broken,” Witherspoon said.

Summary:

• In an exclusive interview, Sweden’s ambassador Karl Backéus has pledged the country will continue to support Liberia’s postwar justice efforts through the U.N., E.U. and other multilateral institutions even as it ends direct assistance to the country.
• Backéus said he hopes lawmakers will pass a bill to establish a war and economic crimes court “in the next few months.” He says international backing will depend on a “robust and strong” court, and financial ownership by the government.
• Backéus said he sees progress in  fight against corruption, but says major problems remain, citing concerns about corruption cases being delayed.

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives 

Sweden’s ambassador to Liberia has used an exclusive interview with Frontpage Africa/New Narratives marking the end of the country’s sixteen years of direct bilateral support since the end of the war, to reaffirm his government’s commitment to Liberia’s post war justice and accountability process.  

Ambassador Karl Backéus said the Swedish government, which was one of the country’s most generous donors until last month, will continue supporting post-war justice efforts through the United Nations, European Union and other multilateral institutions. And he added his voice to international diplomats urging Liberia’s lawmakers to approve legislation establishing a war and economic crimes court within the next few months.

“I really fundamentally do believe that, as part of the reconciliation process in Liberia, there is a need for accountability,” said Backéus. “And even though it has taken a very long time, I do think it needs to move forward.”

Sweden’s commitment comes at a pivotal moment for Liberia’s long-running quest for accountability. More than two decades after the civil wars ended, no one has been prosecuted in Liberia for the widespread wartime atrocities documented by the country’s 2009 Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Six competing proposals involving a War and Economic Crimes Court and a National Anti-Corruption Court are before the Legislature, while questions remain over how the costly courts will be financed as international development funding shrinks. Sweden has been the major international donor to Liberia’s war crimes court process and was in recent years, the second largest bilateral donor after the United States.

Sweden announced last year that it was ending support to five African countries, including Liberia, in order to bolster support to Ukraine, which has been invaded by Russia. The government sees Russian aggression in Europe as a major threat to its own security.

The decision was a major blow for Liberia. Under its 2021–2025 cooperation strategy, Sweden committed about US$190 million to 39 projects spanning human rights, rule of law, governance, sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality, agriculture, infrastructure, independent media and climate and environmental protection. (New Narratives was a recipient of support.)

Liberia could continue to benefit from Sweden’s regional and thematic development programs, covering areas including gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights, democracy and human rights, peace and security, climate and sustainable development. Backéus said the European Union would be particularly important because Sweden, as an E.U. member, contributes to its funding. He also pointed to cooperation between Sweden and Liberia at the United Nations, including through the Peacebuilding Commission.

But Sweden’s future commitments to Liberia and Africa in general will depend heavily on the outcome of national elections to elect all 349 seats of the Riksdag held on the weekend. It’s turned into a genuine cliffhanger: early results put the opposition centre-left bloc, led by former Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson’s Social Democrats, narrowly ahead of Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s outgoing centre-right coalition. The race is too close to call.

Under Sweden’s outgoing government, Sida — the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency — has faced four consecutive years of cuts, with its 2026 budget reduced by roughly 20 percent as part of a broader shift that abandoned Sweden’s long-standing target of spending one percent of gross national income (GNI) on aid. Aid to Africa is projected to fall by two-thirds between 2021 and 2026.

Across the opposition bloc, the rhetoric is consistently pro-aid, but the near-term budgets tell a different story. Every opposition party still cuts aid in 2026 relative to pre-2023 levels — just less than the government — and none has taken a specific position on reversing the five-country phase-out that includes Liberia.

For now, Backéus said, post war justice and accountability is a priority. Sweden provided nearly $1 million to the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Liberia, which has in turn provided furniture and technical support to the government office preparing for the proposed court. Backéus said he hopes that will continue.

“If we can be supportive of that, we want to be,” Backéus said. “We want to continue to stay engaged in this.”

A recent FrontPage Africa/New Narratives survey of 1,150 people across 11 of Liberia’s 15 counties found 91 percent wanted the court, while 89 percent said they would not vote for lawmakers who failed to support legislation establishing one. The survey was not conducted under scientific polling standards. Backéus said it was a strong sign of public sentiment.

“I think it really shows that this is something that’s there’s broad support throughout society in Liberia, through communities all over the country for this important process,” Backéus said.

But he acknowledged the legal complexity of the competing proposals and said lawmakers needed to be confident that whatever legislation they approved was legally sound.

“But at the end of the day, of course, we want to see progress,” he said. “So I hope that we will see that in the next few months.”

Backéus said the precise model was ultimately Liberia’s decision, but international partners would need confidence in the institution before backing it.

“We need, of course, to have something that’s robust and strong,” he said. “And then, with that, I think the international community will continue to be there.”

He identified one potential obstacle to Swedish support: the possibility that the court could impose the death penalty.

“From the Swedish side. We would struggle, I think, to support any court that could, at least in theory, sentence people to the death penalty,” Backéus said. “That would not be consistent with our principles that we stand for.”

Financing presents another challenge. Jallah Barbu, executive director of the Office of the War and Economic Crimes Court, has estimated that establishing and operating the court would cost at least US$20 million.

Backéus warned that international financing for tribunals is far more limited than it was 10 or 20 years ago, pointing to the heavily internationally financed Special Court for Sierra Leone as a model Liberia should not expect donors to replicate.

“Sweden will not be able to provide that kind of funding,” he said. “So there needs to be a stronger ownership for for this also financially from the Liberian side.”

Still, Backéus said he believed political commitment to the court had grown significantly in Liberia and that a less expensive model than some previous international tribunals was possible.

Backéus said Sweden had spent years building the capacity of Liberian institutions and organizations and had worked with partners to prepare them for the transition away from Swedish funding. He singled out support for independent media as an example of an investment he expected to endure.

“One example is, and I’m saying this because I’m talking to you right now, but you know, independent quality journalism, that kind of legacy will live on long after Swedish funding will end,” he said.

Backéus said he was confident Sweden had made a lasting difference and hoped its withdrawal would not leave many unfinished programs.

Backéus also praised Liberia’s democratic resilience in a West African region where several countries have experienced democratic backsliding, highlighting freedom of speech and a free press. But he said corruption remained a serious concern. The embassy has had a major focus on anti-corruption and accountability efforts with funding support to groups including the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia and Naymote Partner for Democratic Development.

“I think we are seeing some positive trends in that area, without a doubt,” he said. “A lot of work remains to be done, and I think it’s important to recognize that corruption is still a major challenge.”

He specifically raised concern about delays in corruption cases brought by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission and expressed disappointment over the limited number of convictions and sentences.

The concern has also been raised by Liberia’s own anti-corruption authorities. The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission that it conducted 44 investigations in 2025 and completed 29. It secured six indictments, resulting in three convictions and one acquittal during the year. The commission has blamed court congestion and the absence of a specialized anti-corruption court for delays in resolving cases.

“I think that’s part of the challenge with the capacity constraints in the legal system, and that there are too many cases that the Liberian Anti-Corruption Commission is bringing to the courts that are delayed,” Backéus said.

He said the proposed National Anti-Corruption Court could help address those constraints.

Backéus, who has traveled to Harper, Robertsport, Nimba, Lofa and other parts of Liberia, said the country also had enormous potential to build a tourism industry around its coastline, forests and other natural attractions.

“There’s so many beautiful spots for nature and tourist potential. I think is almost endless here,” he said.

But he said realizing that potential would require better roads, reliable electricity, investment and skilled workers.

“So I think potential is there,” he said. “It’s going to take time to develop that as well, but I definitely think it’s there.”

This story was a collaboration with New Narratives as part of the Investigating Liberia project. Funding was provided by the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the European Union. The funders had no say in the story’s content.

ST. THOMAS, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — Liberia is taking its investment and economic opportunities message to the Caribbean, with Ambassador Maisie Dunbar, Special Envoy to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for Trade and Investment, set to promote Liberia as an emerging destination for investment at the 2026 We Mean Business Summit.

The summit is scheduled for September 16–18 in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, bringing together women leaders, entrepreneurs, investors and business professionals from the Caribbean, Africa and the wider diaspora.

Dunbar has been invited to participate in a high-level fireside chat expected to focus on investment, economic opportunity and the role of women in shaping markets and communities.

Her participation is being presented as an opportunity to strengthen connections between Liberia, the Caribbean and the African diaspora and explore potential areas of business cooperation.

Pitching Liberia as an Investment Destination

During the engagement, Dunbar is expected to highlight sectors the Liberian government considers to have investment potential, including agriculture, fisheries and the blue economy, tourism, infrastructure, energy and digital transformation.

She is also expected to discuss Liberia’s strategic location on the West African coast, its young population, natural-resource base and opportunities for private-sector partnerships.

“Liberia is not simply a country with resources. Liberia is a country with opportunity,” Dunbar said. “The question is whether we can connect the right investors with the right opportunities and create an environment where capital can come, businesses can grow, and Liberians can benefit.”

The engagement comes as the Boakai administration seeks to attract greater international investment and expand partnerships in support of its development agenda.

However, Dunbar’s participation at the summit is primarily aimed at opening conversations and building relationships with prospective investors rather than announcing specific investment agreements.

Beyond Capital

Dunbar is also expected to emphasize human capital development as an important component of Liberia’s investment strategy.

“Investment in Liberia must also be investment in people,” she said. “Human capital development, workforce readiness, entrepreneurship, education and skills are the foundation upon which sustainable economic growth is built.”

The message is expected to resonate with the summit’s focus on women’s economic empowerment, entrepreneurship, leadership and cross-border business relationships.

Organizers say the National Women’s Collaborative, which is hosting the event, has developed a global network of more than 2,900 women across more than 30 countries.

Seeking Caribbean-Liberian Business Links

Dunbar’s participation is expected to create opportunities for discussions around potential Caribbean-Liberian partnerships in areas including tourism, agriculture, the blue economy, infrastructure, trade, women-led enterprises and diaspora investment.

The Special Envoy said the relationship between Africa and the Caribbean provides a foundation for expanding economic cooperation.

“The Caribbean and Africa share history, culture, resilience and tremendous entrepreneurial spirit,” she said. “This is an opportunity to remind our Caribbean sisters that Liberia is not far away. We are part of the same global African story, and there are opportunities for us to do business together.”

For Liberia, the engagement represents an effort to reach investors and business leaders who may have limited exposure to the country’s investment opportunities.

From St. Thomas to Monrovia

The broader objective, according to the Special Envoy’s office, is to turn international engagements into business connections and eventually investment opportunities.

Dunbar’s participation comes as Liberia seeks to broaden its international economic relationships and attract private capital to sectors identified as priorities for national development.

Whether the St. Thomas engagement results in specific investment commitments will depend on subsequent discussions between Liberian officials, prospective investors and private-sector partners.

For now, the summit provides a platform for Liberia to present its investment case, establish new contacts and encourage Caribbean businesses and members of the African diaspora to explore opportunities in the country.

The 2026 We Mean Business Summit is scheduled to run from September 16–18 in St. Thomas under the leadership of Sharon Jackson, founder of the National Women’s Collaborative.

For the Boakai administration, Dunbar’s participation forms part of its broader effort to position Liberia as a destination for investment while linking economic opportunities with job creation, entrepreneurship and human-capital development.

MONROVIA — The Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) is moving to deepen military cooperation with Morocco, with Chief of Staff Major General Davidson F. Forleh securing commitments for commando training, military vehicles, training equipment and support for Liberia’s efforts to establish and operationalize an Air Wing.

Major General Forleh is in the Kingdom of Morocco on an official visit from September 6–14, 2026, at the invitation of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR), as Liberia seeks to translate the two countries’ military cooperation agreement into concrete programs and capabilities.

According to a release from the AFL, the visit is focused on strengthening bilateral defense relations and implementing the Liberia–Morocco Military Cooperation Agreement signed in Rabat on October 21, 2025.

The agreement provides for cooperation in military training, exercises, technical assistance, military health, and the exchange of experience and expertise. It also establishes a Joint Military Commission tasked with identifying priorities, coordinating implementation, and developing a structured framework for military cooperation.

Morocco Offers Training, Equipment Support

One of the immediate outcomes of General Forleh’s visit is Morocco’s commitment to facilitate commando training for an AFL composite company-sized element in Morocco.

The training is expected to expose Liberian troops to advanced individual and collective training, fieldcraft and operational techniques, according to the AFL.

Morocco has also committed to providing four vehicles, including a command vehicle, along with training aids and selected equipment to strengthen the AFL’s training and operational capabilities.

The measures form part of a broader package of cooperation encompassing professional military education, specialized training, military exercises, technical assistance, equipment support and personnel exchanges.

Support for AFL Air Wing

During the first phase of the visit, the Liberian delegation toured the Royal Moroccan Air Force Inspectorate, Air Transport Base and Royal College of Higher Military Education.

The engagements focused on professional military education, aviation and air transport capabilities and institutional development.

Of particular significance to Liberia is Morocco’s commitment to support the AFL’s efforts to establish and operationalize an Air Wing, including the training and development of qualified personnel.

The Royal College of Higher Military Education also indicated its readiness to provide opportunities for AFL officers at appropriate staff and higher defense education institutions.

High-Level Military Talks

On Tuesday, September 8, Major General Forleh held high-level discussions with General of Army Corps Mohammed Berrid, Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces and Commander of the Southern Zone, at the FAR General Staff Headquarters in Rabat.

The discussions centered on practical modalities for cooperation in military training, exercises and exchange visits, consistent with the October 2025 military cooperation agreement.

The Liberian delegation subsequently visited the 1st Parachute Brigade and Mohammed V Military Hospital to examine operational training, military health capabilities and potential areas where Moroccan expertise could contribute to AFL capacity development.

Military Health Cooperation

Military health has also emerged as a key area of bilateral cooperation.

During the visit to Mohammed V Military Hospital, AFL Medical Command Commander Major Dr. Albertha Clark briefed Moroccan authorities on the state of Liberia’s military health services, including existing capabilities and key challenges.

The discussions identified opportunities for training and exchanges involving AFL medical personnel, technical cooperation and arrangements for specialized medical referrals.

The initiative is expected to strengthen the health-support component of military cooperation between the two countries.

Maritime Security on the Agenda

The AFL delegation is also scheduled to engage with additional Moroccan military institutions, including the Royal Military Academy in Meknes, the Royal Moroccan Navy Inspectorate, the Royal Moroccan Naval Academy and other naval facilities.

The engagements are expected to explore cooperation in maritime security, naval operations, professional military education, technical training and the development of Liberia Coast Guard capabilities.

The Royal Moroccan Naval Academy has served as a venue for professional maritime training and engagement with international naval partners.

Turning Agreement Into Action

A central objective of General Forleh’s visit is the establishment of a structured mechanism to implement the 2025 military cooperation agreement.

The Joint Military Commission is expected to serve as the institutional framework for converting areas identified during the visit—including command and staff education, commando training, air capability development, maritime training, military health, exercises, equipment support and personnel exchanges—into annual cooperation programs.

Such programs could include agreed priorities, training quotas, timelines, focal points and responsibilities for both countries.

The AFL said the approach is consistent with discussions between the two military leaderships, which identified training, exercises and exchange visits as immediate areas for advancing bilateral cooperation.

Delegation

General Forleh is accompanied by his Military Assistant, Lieutenant Colonel Francis O. Gbodi, and Major Dr. Albertha Clark, Commander of the AFL Medical Command.

Liberia’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco, Joseph Johnson, has also participated in the engagements.

The AFL says the visit represents an important step toward transforming Liberia and Morocco’s longstanding relationship into measurable military capability, professional development and improved operational readiness for the Liberian military.

The cooperation also opens opportunities for sustained institutional engagement between the two armed forces.

According to the AFL, the support being extended to Liberia is being provided pursuant to the High Royal Directives of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.

Monrovia —Liberia’s agricultural sector is set to benefit from expanded research, technical training and knowledge exchange following a new partnership between India and Liberia aimed at strengthening

By Patience M. Jones

agricultural productivity, food security and the capacity of local researchers.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Liberia’s Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen cooperation in agricultural research, education and capacity building.

The agreement was signed on Tuesday, at the Embassy of India in Monrovia. ICAR Director General, Mangi Lal Jat, signed on behalf of the Indian institution, while CARI Director General, Dr. Arthur Bob Karnuah, signed for Liberia.

The partnership establishes an institutional framework through which researchers, scientists and agricultural experts from both countries can collaborate on practical solutions to challenges confronting Liberia’s agriculture sector.

Under the agreement, the two institutions will facilitate the exchange of scientists, technologists and experts, as well as scientific literature, information and research methodologies.

It will also support the exchange of germplasm and breeding materials, joint research, training, mentoring and capacity building for research personnel.

A major component of the cooperation will be India’s experience in agricultural extension services, particularly through its Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), a frontline agricultural extension system designed to connect agricultural research with farmers and communities.

The experience is expected to provide Liberia with additional opportunities to strengthen the link between agricultural research institutions, extension services and farmers.

The areas of cooperation will cover crops and agricultural activities considered important to Liberia’s food security and economic development, including cassava and other tropical crops, rice, maize, vegetables, banana, oil palm and cocoa.

The partnership will also extend to fisheries and aquaculture, post-harvest management, food safety and value addition, creating opportunities for both countries to jointly develop research and training initiatives in these areas.

The Embassy of India said the agreement reflects India’s continued support for Liberia’s development priorities through knowledge sharing, institutional partnerships and capacity building.

It further described the initiative as part of India’s broader commitment to mutually beneficial South-South cooperation, with the partnership expected to allow researchers from both countries to learn from one another and develop solutions tailored to local conditions.

Implementation of the agreement will be guided by jointly developed biennial Work Plans, which will outline specific activities and define the respective contributions of ICAR and CARI.

The Embassy of India welcomed the signing as another significant step in the growing India-Liberia partnership, particularly in a sector considered critical to Liberia’s food security and economic development.

The agreement is expected to provide a stronger platform for collaboration between agricultural research and training institutions in both countries while contributing to sustainable agriculture, improved food production, human resource development and increased agricultural productivity in Liberia.

Summary:

• 200 civil society leaders, funders, policymakers and others from almost 30 countries will gather in Ghana this week to design a new African-led approach to development.  
• They say the existing model, designed by non-Africans in capitals of Europe and America, has failed to understand the communities where they work, fueling dependence, and failing to deliver lasting impact.
• The debate has particular significance for Liberia, where critics say billions of dollars of development aid has fueled corruption and dependency and had limited impact.

By Tetee Gebro, gender and health correspondent with New Narratives

In the four years to 2023 the European Union spent $16 million to boost the systems that would keep Liberians safe from gender-based violence. But in 2026 FrontPage Africa/New Narratives found a completely broken legal system in which victims had little chance of accessing justice. The head of the sexual and gender-based violence unit conceded just two perpetrators had been convicted in six years.

The outcome came as little surprise to a growing movement of people in the development sector. They have condemned an aid system designed largely in Western capitals and where the people who understand a problem best are rarely the people trusted to define it.

A major conference in Accra this week will bring together more than 200 African civil society organizations, including from Liberia, with plans to change that. Organizers say the answer is not simply more foreign aid. They want Africans themselves—from governments to communities—to have greater power to determine development priorities and how money is used.

“Let’s shift away from those of us who want to control communities to a situation where communities are in the driving seat,” said Charles Kojo Vandyck, of the West Africa Civil Society Institute, organizers of the Africa at the Center convening, in an interview.

The idea for the Convening grew out of a WACSI project called RINGO — Reimagining the INGO — launched in 2021. More than 95 civil society leaders, funders and organizations were given one instruction: stop writing reports about what is broken and build something that works instead.

Jimm Chick Fomunjong and Gideon Ahenkorah of the West Africa Civil Society Institute, WACSI, described the assumption buried inside that system in a soon to be released opinion piece.

“The form is only the smallest expression of a much larger architecture: who controls resources, who sets the terms on which they move, and who gets to decide what counts as a legitimate priority,” the pair write. “The scale of what these prototypes are responding to is difficult to overstate, and African institutions have spent years documenting it themselves.

Africa received $74 billion in official aid in 2023. In the same year, according to the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, the continent lost an estimated $90 billion to illicit financial flows, largely through trade mis-invoicing and tax avoidance. It paid a further $103 billion servicing external debt in 2024. 

At the International Monetary Fund, where decisions of consequence require an 85 percent majority, the 46 nations of sub-Saharan Africa, a region with a combined economy larger than India’s, shared just two seats on the 24 member executive board until 2024. A third was added only after a decade of advocacy. Africa’s collective vote today stands at roughly 5 per cent. None of these figures, taken together, simply describe a system that malfunctioned. They point instead to an architecture in which the rules governing money, risk and decision-making have too often been set elsewhere, with African countries carrying consequences without possessing an equivalent share of power over the system itself.” 

Organizers want the Accra gathering to advance three broad goals: an African-led development financing system, development in which communities are in the driving seat, and stronger institutions that work for Africa. The conference will also showcase practical approaches already being tested rather than simply producing speeches about problems in the existing system.

One model already being tested is what the organization calls a “reverse call for proposals.” Traditionally, donors determine what they want to fund, issue a call for proposals and African organizations compete for the money. Under the reverse model, communities identify their own development priorities, develop proposals and then invite donors to apply to support them.

The approach has already been tested in the Nyankanga community in Zambia. Working with the Zambian Governance Foundation, community members identified their own development priorities and issued a proposal. Potential partners applied and the community assessed the applications and selected Plan International Zambia.

When Plan arrived with its normal due-diligence requirements, Vandyck said the community turned the process around. Community members first asked Plan to provide its annual reports, explain where it had previously invested in Zambia and demonstrate that it would remain committed to the community.

“You do not send the call, we send the call,” the community told Plan, according to Vandyck.

The amount involved, about $17,000, was small. But Fomunjong and Ahenkorah wrote that the reversal it represents is much bigger than the dollar figure suggests. The Zambian Governance Foundation has since repeated the process in nine more communities. Groups in Malawi and Ghana are testing early versions of the same approach.

Critics of existing aid model say Liberia has more to gain from a new approach than most

In Liberia the failure of the existing development model has been acute. Critics say billions of dollars spent in the country since 2003 has little to show for it with half the population in poverty and extreme poverty rising.

Wonderful Logan is on the frontline. In 2022 she heard good news that free mosquito nets were being handed out across Liberia. The Ministry of Health had received millions in funding from the $5 billion annual donor pool known as the Global Fund to supply nets to people in five counties. So she waited for her net.

“I didn’t receive any,” Logan said. “I got children, I got grandchildren.”

She ended up spending her own money to buy a net instead. Since then, she has watched some of the nets that were supposed to protect families end up somewhere else entirely — used for fishing, draped over chicken coops, or cut into pieces and sold in the market.

“I don’t really see mosquito nets in people’s houses,” Logan said. “I see it in the marketplaces.”

Nets, medicines and other supplies that are meant to be free are routinely stolen and reappear in markets to be bought by the very people they were intended for. Even if they are not stolen, Logan says most of her friends don’t believe the nets work to prevent malaria. Some believe misinformation that they constrain their spirits from leaving their bodies while they sleep.It’s difficult to trust data showing malaria incidence has decreased in Liberia. The 2022 Malaria Indicator Survey found that half the population had access to an insecticide-treated net in their household. Half of children under five and 53 percent of pregnant women — the people malaria threatens most — slept under a net the night before the survey.

But a 2022 investigation by its Office of the Inspector General found systemic fraud. Investigators found problems with 91 percent of expenditures reviewed, totaling $1.1 million – citing fraudulent vehicle contracts, inflated bills and almost no internal controls. For 75 percent of field activities checked, they couldn’t confirm programs had even happened. The Malaria Indicator Survey was one of the activities undertaken with Fund money.

It is exactly the kind of failure Charles Kojo Vandyck, WACSI’s head of capacity building, says has to end on both sides. Secretive decision making without clear explanations, reporting and community buy-in leaves communities powerless to hold leaders accountable.

“There’s very little attention on when the funds are disbursed and where the funds actually go,” Vandyck said.

Vandyck says that African ownership and greater transparency with populations will ensure greater accountability. He said citizens and civil society organizations must follow public money and hold governments accountable for how it is actually spent. The Africa at the Centre gathering comes at a pivotal moment. Foreign aid is being cut while African governments and civil society organizations are increasingly questioning a decades-old development model. Ghana turned down a new health funding agreement with the US Trump administration this year after officials decided the data-sharing terms it demanded cost more than the funding was worth. Zimbabwe had already rejected a similar deal. Kenya’s version of the same fight is now in its own courts.

Organizers of the Accra conference, running from September 1 to 3, say the gathering will produce a formal commitment to build what they call an African-owned architecture for development — one with African priorities, African resources and African agency at its center.

This story was a collaboration with New Narratives as part of the Investigating Liberia project.

Paynesville — Former Liberian President George Manneh Weah has extended condolences to Guinea’s President Mamady Doumbouya and the people of Guinea following a devastating landslide at a major landfill in the capital, Conakry, that killed at least 30 people and critically injured six others.

By Gerald C. Koinyeneh

The disaster occurred early Sunday, August 24, when heavy rains triggered a landslide at the Dar es Salaam landfill, a massive open-air waste dump in Conakry. The collapse buried nearby makeshift structures and destroyed several homes.

In a statement issued Tuesday, August 25, the Office of Former President Weah said he conveyed his “profound condolences” to President Doumbouya, the Guinean government and, particularly, families affected by the tragedy.

Weah also wished those injured a speedy recovery, saying he shared in the grief of the Guinean people during what he described as a difficult national moment.

“It is my fervent prayer and hope that you, your Government and the people of the Republic of Guinea, including, but not limited to the bereaved and affected families, in your usual resilience, will take solace in God The Almighty, as you go through this challenging national period of your existence,” Weah said in his message.

Disaster Strikes Before Landfill Closure

The landslide reportedly occurred shortly after 2 a.m. GMT on Sunday following heavy rainfall. Authorities said the rains washed over the enormous heap of refuse at Dar es Salaam, causing the unstable waste pile to collapse onto nearby dwellings.

Authorities launched a search-and-rescue operation to locate possible survivors. Six people were reported seriously injured, while several homes were destroyed.

The landfill had reportedly been designated for closure on Sunday, according to Lt. Col. Baldé Mamadou Bailo, a sanitation official with Guinea’s military engineering battalion.

The disaster has drawn renewed attention to the dangers posed by informal settlements around large waste dumps, particularly during Guinea’s rainy season.

Weah Praises Guinean Resilience

In his condolence message, Weah expressed confidence that President Doumbouya, his government and the Guinean people would overcome the tragedy with renewed strength and hope.

He said Guinea’s resilience would help the country navigate the aftermath of the disaster and urged the affected families to find comfort in their faith.

The former Liberian leader’s message comes as rescue workers and authorities continue efforts to respond to the deadly landslide and assess the full extent of the destruction in Conakry.

Weah concluded by assuring President Doumbouya and the Guinean people of his solidarity as they mourn those who lost their lives.

As Ukraine marks its Independence Day on Monday, August 24, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Ukrainian Embassy in Dakar, Senegal, Mr. Oleg Kobzystyi, speaks to the Liberian media on a wide range of issues, including the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the state of Liberia-Ukraine relations. Below is the full interview.

Q. How do you assess the current state of affairs on the battlefield? Do you have any thoughts on when the war might end?

Mr. KOBZYSTYI: The Armed Forces of Ukraine defend our State every day and thwart the enemy’s plans. In particular, the President of Ukraine recently announced the complete liberation of the Dnipro region from the Russian occupiers. In addition, despite the permanent false statements of representatives of the Russian military corps, as of the end of August 2026, the Russian occupiers have not been able to completely capture Donbas.

This indicates Russia’s inability to advance further. They hide this inability behind the daily terror of the civilian population, because they know that there is nothing to catch on the battlefield. Every day, the Russian Federation launches dozens of ballistic missiles at peaceful neighborhoods of Ukrainian cities. What kind of readiness for the end of the war can we talk about?

We will be able to talk about when the war will end, when the fighting will cease. As you know, the Ukrainian side has repeatedly proposed holding negotiations on neutral grounds – in Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar. However, Russia is not interested in negotiations, which is why every time they find new excuses not to accept President Zelensky’s proposals. Russia is only interested in capturing, killing, raping and stealing.

Unfortunately, this is exactly what the documented crimes of the Russian Federation in Bucha, Irpin, Olenivka, Kherson and a number of other Ukrainian cities testify to. People were killed, tortured, raped – all this solely because they are Ukrainians…

Q. How important is the mediation of other countries in the humanitarian issues of this war? Do you see the potential for involving Africa in the negotiation process on the humanitarian track?

Mr. KOBZYSTYI: We are grateful to all those who, to varying degrees, are joining in helping Ukraine and its citizens. This applies to both the states located on the same continental shelf with Ukraine, such as the states of the European Union, Norway, North Macedonia and others, and the United States of America, Canada, the states of South America, as well as Qatar, the UAE, Japan, and South Korea.

At the same time, we are convinced that the potential for involving African states in the humanitarian track in this regard is more than significant. First of all, we are talking about assistance in the return of Ukrainian children and the Coalition of the same name – unfortunately, the issue of abduction of children, their loss of ties with their family and homeland – many African states have gone through these trials and their experience in resolving complex humanitarian issues is extremely important right now, when thousands of Ukrainian children were illegally taken away by Russia and placed in foster families in the Russian Federation, which is one of the most egregious crimes of this war unleashed by the Russian Federation.

Q. How do you assess the current state of Ukrainian-Liberian relations?

Mr. KOBZYSTYI: Liberia is a friend and ally of Ukraine in the West African region in particular and on the African continent as a whole. Official Monrovia shares the same postulates as official Kyiv – respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, as well as for human dignity and freedom, and this is what allows our countries to develop a mutually beneficial partnership.

At the same time, we are sure that we still have something to offer each other in a significant number of areas. For example, Ukraine remains open to students from African countries and Liberia in particular – the high quality of Ukrainian education is a well-known factor in African students choosing Ukraine as the country where they prefer to acquire new skills and competencies.

Currently, a simplified online system for submitting documents to Ukrainian higher education institutions is operating. We already have a significant number of students from West Africa who have received permits to enter Ukraine and are preparing for the start of the new academic year. We are convinced that the educational component is a solid foundation for the development of further cooperation.

In addition, we believe that the potential for cooperation in the field of agriculture remains untapped. Ukraine has unique experience and expertise, primarily in the context of crop management systems, GPS monitoring of equipment and precision agriculture. Moreover, all of the above is currently functioning during the period of active hostilities on the territory of Ukraine, which indicates the stability of the Ukrainian development system to external factors and the possibility of its implementation in states interested in the development of the agricultural sector.

Another important direction is the digitalization of state databases and systems for providing public services. Ukraine has something to offer in this regard, in particular in the light of the automation of the provision of certain consular services to Ukrainian citizens abroad (approximately 7-9 million people – ed. note), access to online state registers, etc.

Q. How does the Russian Federation operate in Africa? Have you encountered cases of disinformation directed against you?

Mr. KOBZYSTYI: The Russian Federation does not have a strategy specifically allocated to the African continent – Russia has always pursued the same policy towards everyone with whom it considers it necessary not to cooperate, but to exploit.

This is exactly how Russia cooperates with African states – it does not offer solutions, it sows discord and, in fact, does not hide it.

For example, almost on a monthly basis, we receive new information about African students who went to the Russian Federation to study, but ended up in the combat zone against their will – they are forced to sign a contract drawn up in Russian, that is, a language they do not even speak sufficiently. If they are lucky, they manage to surrender to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and not die. Unfortunately, such cases are rather an exception to the rule, because for the most part, those whom Russia uses as cannon fodder die in the first days of entering the front line – they are thrown into battle after a week of training.

From open sources, we know about cases of criminal recruitment by the Russian Federation in Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, and Zambia. In our region, citizens of Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Ghana have become victims of Russian manipulation. Fortunately, there is currently no information about citizens of Liberia who have become victims of Russian recruitment. We hope that this trend regarding Liberia will continue in the future, because it is very important to make it clear to the Russian Federation that, unlike Russia itself, people are not expendable in other countries.

Citizens of African countries should weigh all the risks when they come into contact with Russians. If there are any doubts, victims of Russian recruiters have repeatedly highlighted the nature of the Russian Federation’s attitude towards people (Malik Diop (Senegal), Richard Kanu (Sierra Leone), etc.). Think twice before signing up for certain death – until a contract with the Russian Armed Forces is signed, you will not find yourself on the battlefield. As soon as the contract is signed, you automatically become a war criminal who violates the territorial integrity and sovereignty of another state and falls under the relevant norms of international law. There is no way back.

As for disinformation, just as Russia hides its inability to advance on the battlefield in Ukraine, Russia hides its crimes behind manipulations and lies in the media. Ukrainian Embassies in Africa are constantly accused of recruiting local citizens, assembling drones right in the Embassies, looking for sorcerers who would poison Putin and his henchmen… This style is nothing new – Ukraine has coexisted and fought against Russia for survival for centuries, so we know very well how Russia seeks to eliminate rivals. But readers should be very careful with such narratives – our African partners have repeatedly debunked Russian lies (for example, in Ghana, when an agent of Russian influence placed Nazi literature on a shelf with Ukrainian books, or in Côte d’Ivoire, when the Russians invented a story about “assembling drones at the Ukrainian Embassy in Abidjan”), which indicates an increasingly better understanding by African countries of the deceitful nature of the Russian Federation.

Q. Turning to the prospects of bilateral relations between Liberia and Ukraine, what, in your opinion, should be the next steps on both sides for the further development of mutually beneficial interstate dialogue?

Mr. KOBZYSTYI: Ukraine and Liberia are partner countries. Countries that value and respect each other. And this is not only within the framework of international organizations, as I said above. In the bilateral direction, among other things, we are working on agreeing on the draft Agreement on the Establishment of a Joint Commission on Economic and Trade Cooperation between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of Liberia, on the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Liberia on cooperation in the field of education, as well as on other equally important draft bilateral documents.

In addition, we continue to work on the possible organization of an official visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia, Ms. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, to Ukraine, within the framework of which both states could sign these documents and agree on other specific steps, as you say, of mutually beneficial cooperation between Ukraine and the Republic of Liberia.

These elements of the contractual and legal framework could form the basis, as you ask, of a new stage on the track of Ukrainian-Liberian relations.

Monrovia– The Embassy of Cuba in Liberia marked the centennial anniversary of former President, Fidel Castro’s birth with a commemoration that highlighted decades of solidarity between the two nations, while recalling the life of one of the world’s longest‑serving and most recognizable leaders.

By Jaheim T. Tumu- jaheim.tumu@frontpageafricaonline.com 

The event, organized by the Cuban Embassy, was attended by senior Liberian officials, diplomats, and civil society leaders. It was not simply a memorial but a political statement, a reaffirmation of Liberia’s solidarity with Cuba and its demand for an end to the decades‑long U.S. embargo.

Castro’s Staying Power

Castro, former President of Cuba, was born in 1926 and rose to power after leading a revolutionary movement against the government at the age of 33. Love him or loathe him, Castro was truly remarkable.

His seizure of power in a popular revolution was a startlingly precocious act, and his maintenance of authority through five decades, 10 American presidencies, and what he claimed were 638 assassination attempts underscored his staying power and determination.

Despite criticism from his opponents, Cuba under Castro built one of the most impressive public health systems in the developing world and achieved educational results that rivaled those of Western Europe.

Statistics showed that with a fraction of the per capita income, Cuba’s infant mortality and longevity rates matched those of wealthier nations.

 Thousands of medical practitioners graduated in Cuba every year, with many sent to more than 60 countries to provide aid and assistance.

Liberia and Cuba A Shared Path

Under Castro, Cuba established formal bilateral relations with Liberia in 1972 through the Non‑Aligned Movement, allowing both Third World nations to collaborate on global platforms despite vastly different economic systems.

 Before the outbreak of Liberia’s civil war, Castro’s administration signed agreements to send Cuban teachers and doctors, alongside programs designed to help protect Liberia’s wetlands and natural resources.

Though conflict halted these plans, the framework allowed cooperation to resume quickly once peace was restored. That cooperation was most visible during Liberia’s hour of greatest distress in 2014, when the Cuban government deployed a specialized 53‑member medical brigade to Monrovia at the height of the Ebola outbreak.

Consisting of epidemiologists, intensive care specialists, surgeons, and pediatricians from Cuba’s Henry Reeve International Medical Brigade, the team operated the largest Ebola Treatment Unit at the former Ministry of Defense compound.

 They worked around the clock with Liberian and international partners to help eradicate the virus from the country.

Cuba also extended its solidarity through education. The Cuba‑Liberia Scholarship Plan provided fully funded opportunities for low‑income Liberian youth. Dozens of students traveled to Havana to graduate as doctors, health technicians, sports specialists, and engineers, returning home to strengthen Liberia’s healthcare and institutional capacity.

Castro’s influence extended beyond Cuba’s borders. In southern Africa, Cuba’s intervention in Angola in 1975 repelled a South African invasion and ensured that the MPLA, rather than its rival UNITA, took control of Luanda. More than a decade later, Castro personally directed strategy during the confrontation at Cuito Cuanavale in 1988.

 That battle became part of a chain of events leading to talks on Cuba’s withdrawal from Angola, Namibia’s independence, and the dismantling of apartheid in South Africa. Nelson Mandela himself later attributed his release from prison and the defeat of apartheid to the events at Cuito Cuanavale.

Argüelles-Dignity and Humanism

Cuba’s Ambassador to Liberia, Dr. Indira López Argüelles, offered a sweeping reflection on Castro’s legacy, weaving together history, humanism, and Cuba’s enduring ties with Liberia.

She quoted Cuban national hero José Martí: “When there are many men without dignity, there are always others, who embody the dignity of many men.” Argüelles described Castro as a leader who rose above privilege to fight injustice.

“He knew how to rise above his wealthy and noble upbringing to lift up the people of Cuba and millions more across the entire planet against ignorance, injustice, oppression, exploitation, and squalor,” she said.

She emphasized that Cuba’s solidarity was not abstract but practical. “Our revolution was conceived with the humble, for the humble, and by the humble,” she said. “For more than 10 years, we have welcomed Liberian students, trained professionals, and our doctors have stood ready to support this small sister nation.”

Argüelles also warned of modern challenges echoing Castro’s earlier warnings. “They are already stealing our resources; now they also want to steal our water and pollute our skies. The insatiable thirst for wealth has only led us to the brink of extinction,” she said, recalling Castro’s speech at the Rio Summit.

She tied Cuba’s solidarity to a universal aspiration. “We pay tribute to Fidel today because he embodies the dreams of freedom, sovereignty, dignity, development, and prosperity that all Liberian men and women and people around the world aspire to and dream of for their lands, their peoples, and their families.”

Liberia’s Tribute

Deputy Minister for International Cooperation and Economic Integration, Dr. Ibrahim Nyei, Deputy  declared that Fidel Castro “embodies the dreams of freedom, sovereignty, dignity, development, and prosperity that all Liberian men and women and people around the world aspire to,” as Liberia marked the centennial of the Cuban leader’s birth.

Nyei reaffirmed his Liberia’s position on Cuba’s economic challenges, stressing that Liberia continues to support Havana’s right to self‑determination.

“On the political and economic situation in Cuba, relating to the sanctions currently against this country, Liberia has continued to stand by the people of Cuba in asserting their right to self‑determination and calling for the lifting of all sanctions that continue to undermine their economy and social services,” Nyei said.

He added that Liberia’s stance aligns with broader international calls, including those from the African Union and the United Nations General Assembly.

 “Liberia will continue to support this UN General Assembly Resolution, and in line with our bilateral ties and our principles of solidarity and freedom for all peoples, Liberia will continue to cooperate with other member states of the United Nations to support and end all embargoes and sanctions against the people of Cuba,” Nyei said.

He said Cuba’s sacrifices in Africa remain etched in history. “The affirmed belief in human freedom, justice, racial equality, and self-determination, as taught by the great Fidel Castro, led Cuba to support independent struggles across Africa, a cause for which they spent enormous resources, and a cause for which many of their soldiers and citizens died,” he said.

“This contribution will never be forgotten by us, the people of Africa.”Nyei urged that Castro’s legacy must be carried forward through solidarity.

“Therefore, the greatest legacy we can all pay to figure out is to stand in frank solidarity with people still under the bondage of colonial and imperial rule, and to continue to support their legitimate cause for freedom, sovereignty, and human dignity,” he said.

Nyei highlighted Cuba’s role in Liberia’s health sector, noting that Cuban training programs have produced doctors now serving in Liberian hospitals.

“This support has focused mainly on training doctors for our country, and as we speak today, we have seen medical students in training in Cuba, and a good number of our doctors currently in our hospitals were trained in Cuba,” Nyei said.

Liberian Reflections

Former Liberian Foreign Affairs Minister Olubanke King‑Akerele added that Cuba’s medical solidarity has been vital for Liberia.

“Many Liberians have also received education and professional training in Cuba and have returned home to serve their nation with distinction. Their contribution continues to enrich our institutions and strengthen our national development,” she said.

King‑Akerele said Cuba’s example shows that nations are remembered not only for what they build within their borders but for what they contribute to humanity.

“Great nations are remembered not only for what they build within their own borders, but also for what they contribute beyond them,” she said.

She said anniversaries are not just about remembrance but about asking deeper questions of contribution and solidarity.

“His life continues to inspire discussion because it was rooted in enduring questions of national sovereignty, social justice, education, health care, and the belief that nations, regardless of their size or wealth, share responsibility to stand in solidarity with one another,” she said.

She said Castro’s legacy to Liberia’s own journey from conflict to resilience. “Ours is a nation that has walked this difficult path from conflict to peace, from vigilance to resilience. We know that lasting progress is built through friendship, mutual respect, and partnership that places Cuba at the center of the development,” she said.

Monrovia — The Embassy of India in Liberia has celebrated India’s 80th Independence Day with a vibrant display of patriotism, culture and diplomacy, bringing together Indian community members, Liberian government officials, diplomats and special guests to celebrate the longstanding friendship between the two countries.

By Patience M. Jones | patiencejones@frontpageafricaonline.com

The celebration on Saturday featured the ceremonial hoisting of the Indian national flag, cultural performances and a reception highlighting growing diplomatic, economic and people-to-people ties between India and Liberia.

The day’s first ceremony was held at the Indian Ambassador’s residence, where Ambassador Manoj B. Verma hoisted the Indian tricolor, known as the Tiranga, and delivered the message of the President of India.

The celebration later continued with cultural performances and social activities that brought Indian and Liberian guests together in an atmosphere of music, traditional performances and fellowship.

Ambassador Highlights Expanding Partnership

Addressing guests at the Independence Day reception, Ambassador Verma, on behalf of his wife, Poonam, and the Embassy of India family, expressed appreciation to the Government and people of Liberia for what he described as the two countries’ longstanding friendship and partnership.

Reflecting on India’s journey since independence from British colonial rule in 1947, Verma paid tribute to the country’s freedom fighters and founding leaders, whose sacrifices, he said, helped lay the foundation for India’s emergence as a vibrant democracy, strong economy and respected member of the international community.

He also congratulated Liberia on its election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2026–2027 term, wishing the country success in carrying out the responsibility.

According to Verma, India-Liberia relations have expanded across several areas, including technology, agriculture, health, mining, energy, trade and investment, education and capacity building.

He particularly welcomed Liberia’s recent inauguration and opening of its Embassy in New Delhi, describing the resident diplomatic mission as a significant milestone that is expected to further strengthen bilateral relations.

Nyanti’s India Visit Deepens Engagement

The Ambassador also highlighted the official visit of Liberia’s Foreign Minister, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, to India on August 13, 2026.

During the visit, Nyanti held bilateral discussions with India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, providing an opportunity for both countries to review their broad partnership and identify new areas of cooperation.

The two sides also exchanged views on regional and multilateral issues and discussed strengthening cooperation at international forums in support of peace, development and a stronger voice for the Global South.

India Expands Opportunities for Liberians

Verma said capacity building remains a central component of India’s development partnership with Liberia.

Under India’s Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program, annual training opportunities for Liberians have been doubled from 70 to 140, while scholarships under the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) have increased to 24.

He disclosed that 20 Liberian students have received scholarships this year to pursue master’s and doctoral programs at leading institutions in India.

More than 150 Liberians travelled to India last year for education, scholarships and professional training, while specialized training was also provided to 30 Liberian mining officials, geologists and engineers.

The Ambassador also highlighted development cooperation through the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Fund for South-South Cooperation, which is supporting Liberia’s Women’s Legislative Caucus.

Bilateral Trade Hits US$390 Million

Economic ties between the two countries are also expanding.

Verma disclosed that bilateral trade between India and Liberia reached approximately US$390 million in 2025–2026, while Liberia’s exports to India more than doubled to nearly US$45 million.

He said the figures demonstrate significant potential for the two countries to expand and diversify their economic partnership.

Beyond trade and investment, Verma emphasized the importance of cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

He cited the participation of a Liberian cultural troupe at the Surajkund International Crafts Mela in India earlier this year as an opportunity for Indian audiences to experience Liberia’s cultural heritage.

He also pointed to initiatives such as the International Day of Yoga, Study in India, tourism cooperation and youth outreach as avenues for bringing the people of the two countries closer.

‘A Friendship Built on Mutual Respect’

Ambassador Verma said India and Liberia share a friendship rooted in mutual respect, shared values and a common desire for peace, prosperity and development.

He reaffirmed India’s commitment to deepening the multifaceted partnership for the benefit of both countries.

The Ambassador also commended the Indian community in Liberia for contributing to the relationship through their businesses, professional activities, goodwill and engagement with Liberian society.

The celebration concluded with appreciation to Indian and Liberian colleagues at the Embassy who helped organize the event, followed by messages of goodwill marking India’s Independence Day.

“Happy Independence Day to all Indians and friends of India. Jai Hind,” Verma said.

The celebration provided not only an occasion to mark India’s 80th Independence Day, but also a reflection of the growing diplomatic, economic, educational and cultural ties between India and Liberia.