Monrovia, 8 October 2021: The European Union Ambassador To Liberia, Laurent Delahousse has apologized to the Liberian government on comments he made at the Monrovia City Hall during a forum on Solid waste Management, in which he said Monrovia city is the dirtiest city he has ever seen.

But in a post on the official Facebook page of the EU mission in Liberia on Friday, October 5, 2021, the Ambassador Laurent Delahousse said “I sincerely apologize to the Government of Liberia and anyone feeling misrepresented by these remarks and I willingly retract the exaggerated wording that I used”

Here is the EU ambassador full statement below:

This Tuesday morning at the Monrovia City Forum on Solid Waste Management, I shared in my public remarks some impressions on the situation of waste collection in the city that I have felt since my arrival in Liberia a year ago.

These comments were meant as a wake-up call to Monrovians to change their practices of littering and to improve the waste management system that is financially supported by the European Union and implemented by the city, community-based enterprises and SMEs and other stakeholders.

In no way were my remarks intended to disparage anyone or to affect the reputation of the beautiful capital city of Liberia. In no way was my intention to take a political stance that would be absolutely contrary to my ethics and mission as a diplomat.

I sincerely apologize to the Government of Liberia and anyone feeling misrepresented by these remarks and I willingly retract the exaggerated wording that I used.

I confirm my engagement and that of the European Union on the side of the City of Monrovia and the Government of Liberia to improve the lives of the citizens of the capital city and of all Liberians.