The President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has been calling on the international community, urging member nations of the United Nations to support Liberia’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2026-2027 term.
Speaking at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on September 27, President Boakai highlighted Liberia’s historical legacy as a founding member of the United Nations and its precursor, the League of Nations, and enumerated Liberia’s contributions to the principles of peace, security, and human dignity as reflected in its active role on the global stage, which are also embedded in the country’s Constitution.
An Executive Mansion press release quoted the President as saying, “Liberia’s history is closely intertwined with the ideals of the United Nations,” and stated further, “Our commitment to fostering peace, resolving conflicts, and advocating for self-determination across Africa is well documented.”
President Boakai went on to underscore Liberia’s active participation in the establishment of significant continental and regional organizations, such as the African Union (AU) formerly the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the Mano River Union (MRU). These organizations, he noted, have played vital roles in promoting cooperation, peace, and development across Africa.
Acknowledging Liberia’s turbulent past marked by civil conflict, President Boakai stressed that the nation’s resilience has been a powerful testament to its journey toward peace and reconciliation.
“Liberia’s experience in overcoming conflict equips us with unique insights into peace-building and conflict resolution, and makes us well positioned to contribute meaningfully to the Security Council’s work.”
Liberia’s priorities on the global stage, particularly in addressing climate change, regional security, and sustainable development, align with the broader international agenda, the Liberian leader avowed.
President Boakai reiterated Liberia’s dedication to multilateralism, advocating for diverse voices in global decision-making processes.
“As a member of the Security Council, Liberia will bring a perspective shaped by our history along with our unwavering commitment to the values enshrined in the UN Charter,” he affirmed.
President Boakai concluded his appeal by respectfully soliciting the support of UN member states for Liberia’s candidacy, and emphasized the nation’s readiness to make meaningful contributions to global peace, security, and governance.
Meeting World Leaders According to Executive Mansion press release, Boakai’s trip to the United States did not go unnoticed in diplomatic circles, as the President made the case of Liberia and emphasized the country’s commitment to democracy and global peace amongst others.
He met with two very important world leaders, the Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres and the President of the United States of America, President Joseph Biden and his wife Dr. Jill Biden.
During the two separate meetings, President Boakai underscored Liberia’s ongoing commitment to national development, global peace, democracy, and multilateralism while stating the importance of international collaboration in strengthening multilateral efforts for global peace and security.
In his meeting with the UN Secretary General António Guterres, President Joseph Boakai on the margins of the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) accentuated Liberia’s ongoing commitment to national development, global peace, democracy, and multilateralism.
During the meeting held on September 25, the Liberian leader expressed profound gratitude to Secretary-General Guterres for the warm reception, noting that it was not the first time Liberia had been welcomed so warmly by the UN leadership.
He acknowledged the crucial role the Secretary-General continues to play in fostering international cooperation and commended his tireless efforts on behalf of the global community.
During the meeting, President Boakai presented Liberia’s remarkable progress in strengthening democracy, reinforcing the rule of law, and maintaining a peaceful status among nations since the end of its civil conflict.
The Liberian Leader highlighted the importance of this progress in Liberia’s aspiration to secure a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), seeking the support of the broader international community for Liberia’s bid.
The President noted further, “Liberia is committed to playing an active role within the United Nations system and to restore its standing in the global community,”
“As a founding member of the UN and a nation that has emerged from the war,” the President said, “we are uniquely positioned to contribute meaningfully to global peace and security” he noted.
In the course of their discussions, President Boakai also highlighted Liberia’s dedication to democratic principles, noting that the country has consistently maintained a democratic culture since the cessation of conflict.
He reaffirmed Liberia’s intent to actively support the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and contribute to the preservation of peace and security, and democracy in the region.
Speaking further, President Boakai drew attention to the ongoing issue of returnees – Liberians who fled the country during the civil war and are now returning to rebuild their lives, and expressed his government’s commitment to ensuring their successful reintegration, while also requesting the support of the UN particularly the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Addressing other concerns, the President informed the UNSG about the drug crisis in Liberia and his government’s efforts to mitigate the challenges.
The Liberian Chief Executive also highlighted the challenges posed by the country’s youthful population and high unemployment rates, while emphasizing the progress being made to harness the nation’s demographic dividend and the drive towards economic recovery.
Responding to the Liberian President, UN Secretary-General Guterres acknowledged Liberia’s transition from conflict to peace and noted the impact of the country’s unfolding democratic credentials in West Africa.
He commended Liberia for its steady progress in building a pluralist and inclusive society and expressed well wishes on the path to sustainable economic growth.
The Secretary-General also reaffirmed the United Nations’ support for Liberia’s developmental and peace-building agenda.
The meeting concluded with a mutual understanding of the importance of continued collaboration between Liberia and the United Nations, as both parties reaffirmed their commitment to global peace, security, and development.
Members of the delegation attending the meeting were Honorable Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Honorable Samuel Kofi Woods, Security Adviser to the President; Madam Sarah Safyn Fyneah, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Liberia to the United Nations, and Honorable Nathaniel Kwabo, Director General of the Cabinet.
In a separate development, President Boakai attended a reception hosted in his honor by United States President Joseph R. Biden and his wife Dr. Jill Biden.
A dispatch from New York on September 26, says President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., honored the invitation from United States President Joseph Biden and the U.S First Lady to attend the reception on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
The reception, hosted on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, by President Biden, brought together world leaders to engage in constructive chitchats on global cooperation, peace, and sustainable development.
The Liberian President expressed his gratitude for the invitation and reiterated Liberia’s commitment to working closely with the United States and other nations in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, promoting peace, and addressing pressing global challenges, including climate change and economic growth.
President Boakai then highlighted the importance of international collaboration in strengthening multilateral efforts for global peace and security.
In a related development, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has addressed some journalists on the sideline of his visit to the United States to attend the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly, accentuating the importance of Liberia’s membership on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and his efforts towards achieving the goal of Liberia’s election on the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member.
The UNSC is a 15 member-membered powerful organ of the United Nations with five permanent members and 10 non-permanent members.
Since the 1940s when the UN was founded, Liberia has not served on the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member and the present engagement by the national leadership to ensure Liberia’s election will be the first of its kind.
The Security Council is expected to elect its new non-permanent members in June 2025 and Liberia has been pushing for non-permanent membership, rallying support to achieve this goal.
Accordingly, the President has been explaining the significance of Liberia’s bid to take non-permanent membership on the 15-member UNSC.
“We have played a very, very important role as a founder of the UN. And the fact that we are there [on the UNSC], we can help to serve as mentors and to be able to help to make decisions consistent with the UN Charter,” President Boakai indicated.
The Liberian leader furthered that Liberia will also showcase the country that the country can assume leadership and we can help to bring about peace in the world. “We can be a part of solutions [considering] the fact that we were part of the problem; this should mean now that we are ready to be part of solution. So it means Liberia’s election to the Security Council as a non-permanent member is to give Liberia a standing in the world.
Asked what has been done to achieve this bid, President Boakai said the present effort is a launch of Liberia’s bid for a seat on the UNSC.
“This is the launching; before the launching, a lot of lobbying has been done already. So many letters I have signed to almost all of those that should be behind the voting, followed by telephone calls, meeting people that are making their commitments, like the President of Ghana, the presidents were committing and some of them were leaving,” President Boakai explained further as he noted therefore that his administration will continue to work and is we are very optimistic of achieving the goal
President Boakai also pointed out that the launch of this campaign to be seated on the UNSC as a permanent member sends a strong message that should resonate with the people.
“Anybody,” he said, “who is patriotic should know that this is a very successful trip to the UN 79th General Assembly Session. As a matter of fact, this is my first visit to the General Assembly meeting of the UN, but the General Assembly is not new to me.”
The Liberian Chief Executive thinks this trip to the UN is to put Liberia back strongly on the map of the international community, to assure the people that Liberia is really ready for business.
“We have a lot of side events – speaking on a lot of issues, speaking on the future of the young people, speaking on issues of peace. I mean we have been able to do much, much more to make sure that people know that Liberia is ready for business.
According to the Liberian leader, his mission is to make sure that Liberia stands with the world for the betterment of the world so that Liberians will feel that they have every reason to be proud of our country and to be able to know that we are now ready for business.
President Boakai was accompanied to the UN by former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to the joy of some Liberians at home and abroad who fantasize the beauty of two of Liberia’s presidents – the past and the president- to be together at such an international forum.
But for President Boakai, “It is not the first time Ellen and I been together, and I am proud that she could come all the way to support us; it is a show of real patriotism, and we believe that we can demonstrate to the world even more vividly that our country is an example of country in which two leaders, one former and one president, can stand together to promote their country,” adding
“It is a very, very good message to the world, it is a good message to our people too.”
While in New York, United States, President Boakai on Saturday, September 21, attended a Town Hall meeting with Liberians at Staten Island.
“That was a very impressive meeting; I have been to Staten Island. I visited the Island before … but for this trip, the number of Liberians I have seen and the way they express their joy, it was the beginning of our efforts to lay a foundation for diaspora contact.”
He reasoned that this is because these Liberians represent Liberians at home in the diaspora, adding therefore that the messages were very strong, the attendance was very encouraging, it is the beginning of our engagement with the Liberians in the diaspora.