Liberia plans to open its first official office in Israel, local media reported on Wednesday. The Jerusalem-based venture will initially serve as a commercial office and will eventually become the Liberian embassy in Israel.
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The West African country does not currently have any official representation in the Jewish state.
The announcement was made by a delegation of Liberian ministers, led by Prime Minister Nathaniel McGill, during a meeting with President Isaac Herzog and Deputy Foreign Minister Idan Roll.
The delegation currently in Israel includes other senior Liberian government officials: the ministers of economy, trade and industry, information and agriculture.
It was a pleasure hosting a ministerial delegation from the Republic of Liberia headed by Minister of State McGill.
I thanked the participants for Liberia's support of Israel in the UN and for its decision to open an official office in Jerusalem, Israel's capital???? pic.twitter.com/RIVjWY0Q29
— Idan Roll - עידן רול (@idanroll) June 8, 2022
As part of the visit, the members of the delegation took part in meetings at the Defense Ministry and other bodies.
During a meeting with Roll, the Liberian delegation received a detailed explanation of the procedure. The officials said that within a few weeks they will finish submitting their application for the location of their office in Jerusalem.
During these exchanges, the delegation asked for the help of the Jewish state on several issues, including agriculture, drought, and tourism.
"It was a pleasure hosting a ministerial delegation from the Republic of Liberia headed by Minister of State McGill. I thanked the participants for Liberia's support of Israel in the UN and for its decision to open an official office in Jerusalem, Israel's capital," Roll tweeted.
Liberia, home to five million people, is an important ally of Israel on the international stage, having regularly sided with Israel, both at the UN and at the African Union in recent years.
Liberia was one of the African nations to vote in favor of the inception of an independent Jewish state at the UN in 1947.
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Under pressure from African Muslim nations, Monrovia's government severed ties with Jerusalem in 1973. Diplomatic relations were renewed in 1983.
Other African nations that also cut ties with Israel over such pressure have also resumed ties with the Jewish state over the years, seeking Israeli assistance on issues such as security, technology, and agriculture.
i24NEWS contributed to this report.
