IPNEWS – Monrovia: President George Weah has expressed deep shock at reports of the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Abe, 67, was shot on Friday, July 8, 2022, while giving a speech at a campaign event. He later died of his wounds, despite frantic efforts to revive him.

The former Prime Minister served his country the longest before leaving office in 2020, citing health concerns.

He met the Liberian Leader during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 2019 Tokyo International Conference on Africa Development (TICAD), where both countries pledged to strengthen ties, particularly in the Agricultural (fishery) sector and infrastructure development.

Abe’s leadership of Japan also lent strong support to Liberia’s health and education sectors.

At the TICAD summit in Tokyo, the Liberian and Japanese leaders chatted heartily about how they both assumed leadership of their countries at the same age of 52.

President Weah has said it is heartbreaking to see that the former Prime Minister, who still had so much to offer his country, die so tragically.

He extended his sympathy to the government and people of Japan, as well as the bereaved family.