Pascal Arogorn Ibe
Liberian President George Weah on Friday inaugurated a new national carrier for the West African country , named Lone Star Air , about 30 years after the country ’ s previous airline went bust .
Speaking at a ceremony at Liberia’ s international airport , near the capital Monrovia , Weah said the new airline would “ connect our country to our region and to the world ” .
“ It is my dream , my hope and my ambition that we will very soon see Lone Star Air , the wings of Liberia, flying our flag in international skies , shining so brightly, ” said the footballer-turned-president .
Liberia’ s flag bears resemblance to the flag of the United States but features one star instead of 50.
The country was founded in the 19th century with US support as a home for freed American slaves , whose descendants have a long history of dominating political life.
Liberia currently has no active national carrier , with the country’ s former airline folding in the early 1990s , according to a statement from Lone Star Air .
It is unclear when the new airline will begin flights , and neither Weah’ s office nor the ministry of transport were immediately available for comment .
However, the airline initially plans to operate flights between Monrovia and regional hubs such as Abidjan in Ivory Coast or Nigeria ’ s Lagos
.
A poor nation of some 4. 8 million people, Liberia is still recovering after back – to – back civil wars from 1989 to 2003 and West Africa ’ s 2014- 16 Ebola crisis .
( AFP)
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