MONROVIA, LIBERIA—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is departing Liberia today with a promise to renew and strengthen the friendship between Canada and the West African nation. “Canada and Liberia have a strong relationship — one that is made stronger by our shared belief that when women and girls are full participants in the social, economic and political lives of our two countries, we will all succeed,” Trudeau said Thursday in Monrovia. The prime minister will spend Friday flying across the continent to Antananarivo, the capital city of the island nation of Madagascar, where he will lead the Canadian delegation at the summit of the International Organization of la Francophonie over the weekend. The choice of Liberia for his first visit to Africa since the Liberals came to power last year surprised some observers, given there is a limited relationship and no obvious economic interests between Canada and Liberia, which was hit hard by the deadly Ebola virus in recent years. Trudeau, however, said he was inspired by the leadership of Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who along with other women has been recognized — including with a Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 — for her role in achieving and maintaining peace and stability following brutal civil conflict.

Source: thestar November 25, 2016 12:50 UTC