By Alpha Kamara

DAKAR, Senegal

The West African regional group ECOWAS signed a memorandum of understanding with Israel in the Liberian capital Monrovia on Saturday to provide solar energy worth $1 billion to 15 member countries over the next four years.

The deal was signed hours before the ECOWAS heads of state summit began in Monrovia where the Israeli premier will address the group’s leaders.

He is the first Israeli leader to be invited to the state summit.

Israeli Ambassador to West Africa Paul Hirschson told Anadolu Agency: “We value the relationship existing between Israel and West Africa, and for ECOWAS to invite Prime Minister Netanyahu to attend its heads of states summit is an opportunity for Israel to respond as a true friend.”

The ECOWAS summit will focus on security, fight against terrorism, climate change, governance and sustainable development.

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is the outgoing chairperson of ECOWAS. Her successor will also be elected at the end of the summit.