Liberia: Somali Delegation Here for Capacity Building

[Coeus]

A 10-man delegation from the Somalia Transitional Federal Government on Monday paid a courtesy call on President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf at the Foreign Ministry in Monrovia.

Welcoming the delegation, the President expressed delight that Liberia was chosen to help support the capacity-building program of personnel of the Transitional Government in Somalia. The President said she would convey to the African Union Liberia's willingness to share with the Transitional Government its experience in post-war reconstruction. The President hoped the two-week interaction with Liberian professionals would help build the capacity of personnel of the Somali Transitional Government.

According to an Executive Mansion release, the Somali delegation thanked the President for accepting the request by the African Union to help build their capacity. Members of the delegation said they were impressed at the progress Government is making under the leadership of President Johnson Sirleaf. "Thank you for your leadership and development," the head of the delegation told the Liberian President. He promised that whatever they have learned while in Liberia will be taken back to Somalia.

Officials from the Transitional Government of Somalia have been in Liberia for two weeks in response to a request by the African Union to help build the capacity and provide training for Somalia's security forces and public institutions, in an effort to enable the Transitional Government deliver basic services to that country.

The delegation has interacted with personnel at the Office of the Vice President, the Ministries Foreign Affairs and Finance, the Civil Service Agency and Procurement authorities. The African Union requested Liberia, Burundi, Uganda, Sierra Leone and Rwanda to host the capacity-building program for the Somalis.