Liberia to be ‘America’s success story in Africa’

WASHINGTON – Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf thanked the United States on Wednesday for its role in helping end the civil war that engulfed her country just a few short years ago.

“Honourable ladies and gentlemen of this Congress, I want to thank you. All the Liberian people sent me here to thank you for that vision.Our triumph over evil is also your triumph,” Johnson Sirleaf told a joint session of the US legislature.Washington’s intervention “paved the way for a United Nations force that secured our peace and guaranteed free and fair elections,” she said in an address punctuated by numerous standing ovations from US lawmakers.She offered special thanks to President George W Bush for his role against disgraced dictator Charles Taylor, who presided over the civil conflict that ravaged Liberia between 1990 and 2003.Johnson Sirleaf’s election last November came after two decades of civil strife which left her country in shambles, and cemented its status as one of the world’s poorest nations.She said it will take years to recover.- Nampa-AFPAll the Liberian people sent me here to thank you for that vision.Our triumph over evil is also your triumph,” Johnson Sirleaf told a joint session of the US legislature.Washington’s intervention “paved the way for a United Nations force that secured our peace and guaranteed free and fair elections,” she said in an address punctuated by numerous standing ovations from US lawmakers.She offered special thanks to President George W Bush for his role against disgraced dictator Charles Taylor, who presided over the civil conflict that ravaged Liberia between 1990 and 2003.Johnson Sirleaf’s election last November came after two decades of civil strife which left her country in shambles, and cemented its status as one of the world’s poorest nations.She said it will take years to recover. – Nampa-AFP