DAKAR, SENEGAL – Liberia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Senegal, Ali Sylla, officially presented his Letter of Credence to the President of the Republic of Senegal, His Excellency Bassirou Diomaye Faye, during a formal ceremony at the Presidential Palace.
Ambassador Sylla, in conveying the warmest greetings of H.E. President Joseph N. Boakai, Sr., underscored the enduring and historic bonds between Liberia and Senegal, dating back to the 1960s. He recalled how Liberia welcomed thousands of Senegalese nationals during that era and maintained strong diplomatic ties, including hosting a Senegalese Embassy at the Ambassadorial level. “Today, Liberia remains home to a vibrant Senegalese community,” he noted.
The Liberian envoy expressed profound appreciation to the Government and people of Senegal for their pivotal role in supporting Liberia during its civil conflicts, particularly Senegal’s contribution to the ECOWAS peacekeeping mission that helped stabilize the country.
Ambassador Sylla emphasized Liberia’s desire to deepen bilateral cooperation, stating, “We are hopeful that the excellent relations between our two nations will continue to grow in strength, promoting mutual benefits for our peoples.” He further appealed for Senegal’s support for Liberia’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
The Ambassador also took the opportunity to brief President Faye on the ARREST Agenda of President Boakai—an acronym for Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism. He described it as Liberia’s strategic roadmap for inclusive development, focusing on critical issues such as infrastructure development, youth and women empowerment, education, health services, and access to technology. Ambassador Sylla affirmed the alignment of the ARREST Agenda with global and regional frameworks including the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and ECOWAS Vision 2050.
In response, President Faye warmly welcomed Ambassador Sylla and extended congratulations on his new diplomatic role. He applauded Liberia’s record of peaceful democratic transitions, citing the country’s four consecutive democratic elections as a beacon of political stability in the region.
President Faye also acknowledged the invitation extended by President Boakai to attend Liberia’s Independence Day celebration last year, expressing his appreciation despite being unable to attend. He reaffirmed Senegal’s commitment to strengthening cooperation and instructed the Minister of African Integration and Foreign Affairs to engage with Senegal’s private sector in aligning their initiatives with Liberia’s ARREST Agenda.
The President further encouraged the Liberian Government, through Ambassador Sylla, to present concrete proposals that identify specific areas where Senegal can assist in Liberia’s development efforts.
The ceremony was attended by prominent dignitaries including Her Excellency Madam Yaccine Fall, Minister of African Integration and Foreign Affairs, the Presidential Advisor on Foreign Affairs, and the Deputy Minister for International Cooperation, symbolizing the high-level attention and importance Senegal places on its ties with Liberia.
As Ambassador Sylla embarks on his mission, both nations reaffirm their commitment to a future of strengthened diplomatic, economic, and cultural cooperation.
