Wade Proposes Dakar-Monrovia Rail Road

Bilateral talks were held yesterday, May 10, 2010 between President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and her Senegalese counterpart, President, Abduolaye Wade.

The talks, according to a release from the Ministry of Information and Cultural Affairs (MICAT), were held with the aim of fostering mutual economic cooperation between the two West African countries.

According to MICAT, the meeting between the two African leaders is an initial discussion to bring about infrastructural development in the whole of West Africa.

The release said, following hours of closed door meeting at the Roberts International Airport, the Senegalese leader spoke of the urgent need for the construction of rail road that would link Monrovia with Dakar and other sub-regional countries.

President Wade emphasized that his visit to Liberia is intended to get the blessing of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and the Liberian people.

President Wade, who is also coordinating the New Partnership for African Development, said the favorable support from Liberia will enable him to properly plan for the next African Union (AU) meeting that would pave the way for accelerating the process.

In a related development, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has expressed the hope that the idea to bring about infrastructural development would enhance closer ties amongst the leaders of the West African States, thereby fostering mutual cooperation that would lead to the benefit of the people in this part of West Africa.

Meanwhile, the release added, the Senegalese leader has also disclosed that his government is considering a student exchange program with the University of Liberia saying, “this is to encourage a good learning atmosphere in the sub-region.”