Liberians Excited Over Boakai’s UNGA Address -Many Say He Spoke Candidly on National, Global Issues

MONROVIA – When President Joseph Nyuma Boakai took to the podium on Tuesday, September 24, 2025, to address the 80^th session of the United Nations General Assembly on behalf of the people of Liberia, his fellow citizens at home and abroad waited eagerly to see whether their leader would rise to the occasion and speak to the heart of the world gathering on those issues that matter most, nationally and globally. As The Analyst has gathered in a post-address sampling of views from the public, Liberians are generally satisfied that their president lived up to the billing – he did not only speak “beautiful English” but spoke with clarity and substance.

“President Boakai really made us proud with his UNGA address. He did not present Liberia as a panhandling nation but showcase a people rising from the abyss of self-inflicted conflict to reassert its position once again at the world’s highest seat, even if it’s a non-permanent seat. Like a true pan-Africanist, Boakai looked into the eyes of other leaders and called for greater inclusion, effectiveness, and respect for internation laws, all of which form the bedrock of the United Nations Charter. The fact that President Boakai could speak directly to the consciences of world leaders about the Russian-Ukraine war and the devastating Israeli Palestinian conflict, calling for a diplomatic resolution of those conflicts, brought a whole lot of respect to our president. And when he touched on what his government intend to do to change the lives of the citizens through the ARREST Agenda, many of us were happy, even though I would love to know how this government will raise the needed resources to support its five-year development plan,” says Nancy Monboe of Johnsonville.

“Well, for me, I was really touched when President Boakai expressed his appreciation to other world leaders for allowing Liberia to hold a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council from 2026 – 2027. And I especially pleased when he promised that Liberia will use its position to advocate for Africa’s fair representation on the UN Security Council through a permanent seat. For me, this alone puts President Boakai in a whole new league of bold and courageous leaders who is prepared to fight for a space at the high seat of decision making at the UN,” Sam Devine Collins of Central Monrovia.

But what Did President Boakai Really Say?

Addressing the 80^th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York for the first time since his country’s ascendency as a UNGA Non-permanent member, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai began by showering praises on the United Nations, stating in no uncertain terms that the international body remains the most critical multilateral platform for international cooperation and collective action, and that the UN continues to embody the best framework of humanity for peace, justice, security, dignity, and shared prosperity.

Acknowledging Liberia’s Ascendency to UNGA Non-permanent Seat

Rising to the occasion as he spoke on the theme: “Better Together: 80 Years and More for Peace, Development, and Human Rights”, President Boakai expressed his government’s appreciation for the overwhelming trust demonstrated by the General Assembly members in electing Liberia to serve on the Non-permanent seat of the United Nations Security Council for the 2026-2027 term, marking Liberia’s first full tenure on the UN Security Council, eighty years after the country signed the charter in the Herbst Theatre auditorium in San Francisco.

“While the nameplate during this two-year term will read “Liberia”, the seat, however, belongs to Africa. We are committed to ensuring that Liberia’s contributions to the Security Council’s discussions and decisions are shaped by our hard-earned experiences in conflict resolution, as well as our successes in peacebuilding, democratic reform, political transition, and governance.

“Additionally, the collective experiences of the continent will be taken into consideration. Liberia looks forward to advocating for Africa’s fair representation on the UN Security Council, which can only be achieved through permanent representation as a key part of the UN Security Council reform agenda,” President Boakai said.

A call for renewal of multilateralism amid new challenges

The Liberian leader used the occasion to strike a salient chord about the essence of the United Nation foundation, which he said was necessitated by the need to form a world body focused on promoting and securing cooperation through multilateralism. Boakai noted that when the UN was founded in 1945, nations came together in the belief that peace could only be secured through cooperation, and that after two world wars, it became a widely held conviction that nations are stronger when united than when divided.

“Eighty years later, that conviction is being tested like never before. From wars and displacements to terrorism, threats to technological advances, climate change, and widening inequalities, today, our world faces challenges that no country can solve alone. At the same time, and paradoxically, when the world needs to strengthen multilateralism, its credibility and efficacy are being questioned.

“As one of only four African countries to sign the Charter of the United Nations, Liberia feels morally obligated to call for a renewal—rather than a reversal— of multilateralism. Reversal of multilateralism is not an option for a just and peaceful world. We call for greater inclusion, effectiveness, and respect for international law, recognizing that the credibility of the United Nations depends on our ability to act together in the service of humanity, rather than apart in the pursuit of narrow interests,” he said.

Resolving wars through diplomacy

President Boakai further noted that wars in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa are reminders that peace is often fragile and must be constantly defended. Therefore, as in 1945, his government and people once again reaffirm their commitment to dialogue, diplomacy, and the peaceful resolution of disputes.

The Liberian leader therefore affirmed his country’s supports for all credible mediation efforts aimed at resolving the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as well as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, noting that Liberia stands on the common African position for the realization of the two-state solution, where Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace and security, in accordance with international law and relevant UN Resolutions.

“We call on the international community to act together and decisively to protect civilians, hold perpetrators of atrocities accountable, and strengthen mediation efforts. Rising from the ruins of civil war, Liberia knows all too well the human cost of conflict and the importance of peace. Since 2003, Liberia has experienced three peaceful and orderly democratic transitions, each marked by smooth transfers of power, making our nation safer, more stable, and more secure after over thirty years of unrest, instability, and destruction. Liberians have also worked hard to achieve this through multilateral cooperation, with support from ECOWAS, the African Union, and the United Nations.

Climate Change- a hardcore reality

The Liberian leader said his country acknowledges the impending calamity that climate change brings, and that his country sees the threats as preeminently real and not a distant foreboding. The erosion of Liberia’s coastal areas, the devastation of communities by storms and heavy rains are all creeping realities that threaten lives and livelihoods and exacerbate food insecurity, Boakai said.

“Yet we are acting. We are carrying out coastal defense projects, developing climate information systems for early warning systems, finalizing our carbon market policies, and advancing a blue economy strategy.

“But our efforts alone are not enough. We urge urgent implementation of the Paris Agreement, full capitalization of the Loss and Damage Fund, and greater global investment in adaptation and mitigation. Above all, we call for Climate Justice—those who contribute the least to this crisis should not be forced to suffer the most,” he said.

Reforms in international financial architecture

Speaking on the challenges that developing nations face in servicing debt on health and education, President Boakai noted how the current international financial architecture remain unresponsive to this reality, making it not only outdated, but also unjust and defiant of the objectives of shared prosperity and development, the pursuit of which the United Nations was also created.

“Liberia, therefore, joins the Global South in calling for urgent reforms to the international financial architecture to ensure fair representation, a new approach to debt servicing, and financing that supports sustainable development. Shared prosperity requires a system that truly leaves no nation behind,” President Boakai said.

Home-grown solutions for human development – the ARREST Agenda

Bringing his captivated audience closer home to Liberia, Boakai touched on his government’s development agenda and what it means for livelihoods of a recovering nation. Noting that inclusive development remains his government’s top priority, his team has launched the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, which focuses on Agriculture and Food Security; Roads and Infrastructure; Rule of Law and Good Governance; Education and Skills Development; Sanitation and Health; and Tourism, Technology and Innovation.

The Arrest Agenda, he said, aligns with Liberia’s National Vision 2030, which aims to transform Liberia into a lower-middle-income country and lay the foundation for a capable state by 2030. “Through this agenda, we are committed to improving livelihoods, reducing inequality, and ensuring that every Liberian benefits from the dividends of peace and development.

“We are taking tangible steps to improve governance. By implementing accountability and anti-corruption measures, such as asset declarations, we are strengthening institutional capacity to promote integrity, transparency, and improved public service delivery.

“Liberia has endured some of the darkest chapters of human suffering, having experienced one of the most brutal civil conflicts in recent history. Over the past two decades, we have remained firmly on the path of recovery—working to heal our nation and rebuild from the painful legacy of war.

“My government has taken deliberate and meaningful steps toward national reconciliation. These include honoring the memory of the victims, supporting initiatives for memorialization, and upholding our commitment to justice and the rule of law.

“While we recognize that these efforts are complex and challenging, they are essential steps toward achieving lasting peace and genuine national healing,” Boakai said, as he renewed his government’s request for international support and assistance in establishing a War and Economic Crimes Court, which will further the Liberian people’s aspiration for national healing and reconciliation through justice.

A call for a reinvigorated United Nations

In closing, President Boakai acknowledged the fact that the United Nations must adapt to the changing time if it must remain practical and useful. In this regard, he said Liberia supports the Pact for the Future and the Global Digital Compact.

“We also call for a UN that’s more responsive and reflective of today’s world. Using outdated 1945 solutions to tackle 2025 challenges is neither reasonable nor realistic.

“Regarding the Sustainable Development Goals, we agree that our collective progress is too slow. However, reaching the SDG targets remains as vital as ever. We, therefore, urge that the timely achievement of the SDGs be treated as a global emergency. Consequently, Liberia will submit its next Voluntary National Review in 2026, committing to accelerate the implementation of the global goals in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and ECOWAS’ Vision 2050.

“The theme of this session, “Better Together,” aptly captures both the spirit and the urgency of our time. The challenges before us are immense. So, too, must be our collective capacity to overcome them. Liberia pledges to remain a bridge to peace, a development partner, and a defender of human rights.

“Over the next 80 years, we will continue to honor the promise of 1945 by renewing our commitment to a world where peace is just, development is inclusive, and dignity is universal,” President Boakai said, amid thunderous applause from the audience.