Monrovia – Liberia’s election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Safety Council (UNSC) for the 2026–2027 time period marks a diplomatic milestone for the West African nation. But, the celebratory second has been overshadowed by political discord over who deserves credit score for the achievement.
By Selma Lomax | [email protected]
President Joseph Boakai’s handle on Tuesday hailed Liberia’s victory as “a brand new chapter in our nation’s historical past,” emphasizing nationwide resilience, dedication to peace, and Liberia’s dedication to international cooperation.
President Boakai praised the nation’s diplomatic heritage by honoring previous presidents Joseph Jenkins Roberts, Edwin Barclay, William V.S. Tubman, William R. Tolbert Jr., and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for his or her roles in Liberia’s worldwide relations.
He additionally recommended Overseas Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti and the diplomatic groups who finalized the hassle. Nevertheless, he sidestepped mentioning former President George Weah, whose administration launched and led the formal marketing campaign to safe the UNSC seat.
This omission has fueled a political backlash. In a press release issued June 3, Weah congratulated President Boakai and his authorities for efficiently concluding the marketing campaign.
“As we speak marks a proud second for our beloved nation,” Weah stated. “I lengthen heartfelt appreciation to the Authorities of Liberia, led by President Joseph Boakai, for making certain that this monumental nationwide aspiration got here to a profitable conclusion.” He additionally acknowledged regional companions together with ECOWAS and the African Union for his or her help.
Overseas Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti defended the present administration’s function: “We believed on this trigger. The earlier administration had this imaginative and prescient however didn’t get the chance to implement it. We informed them this is not going to die. We carried the torch ahead, we exhausted each effort, and we stated, with or with out anybody’s approval, we are going to go.”
Opposition members from Weah’s Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) swiftly condemned Boakai’s failure to acknowledge the previous president. Jefferson Koijee, former Monrovia mayor and CDC stalwart, referred to as the omission “revisionist” and a “blatant disregard for details.” Koijee recalled Weah’s 2023 State of the Nation Deal with, the place he outlined the diplomatic technique that secured Liberia’s UNSC seat inside two years of his tenure.
Koijee challenged claims that the Boakai authorities spent $3.8 million in two months to “obtain” what was already secured, stating, “The reality, just like the North Star, doesn’t transfer — it shines, regular and unshaken.”
Different CDC voices echoed the sentiment. Regan G. Saydee lamented, “To commend those that had no hand on this success whereas leaving out the one that laid the muse is a tragic reflection of Liberia’s political divide.” Torkpa Korkoryiza warned, “Boakai and his individuals is not going to be allowed to lie or take unmerited glory for this milestone. The details are clear — it was President Weah who delivered the UNSC seat to Liberia.”
Nelson Rhodan, a CDC official, added, “The previous president laid the muse for this success. The present administration’s pretense that it began the method is disingenuous and disrespectful.”
Political analysts in Monrovia referred to as Boakai’s silence a “missed alternative for nationwide unity.” One analyst informed FrontPage Africa, “Boakai had the possibility to exhibit statesmanship by acknowledging his predecessor’s function on this nationwide achievement however selected silence as a substitute, probably for political causes.”
In the meantime, STAND, Liberia’s main civil society coalition, launched a press release praising Liberia’s UNSC victory however warning President Boakai to “view this historic second not as a political trophy, however as an ethical and constitutional turning level.” STAND Chairman Mulbah Morlu emphasised that Liberia’s management on the worldwide stage “calls for adherence to the rule of regulation and safety of civil liberties at dwelling.”
Morlu cautioned, “It’s one factor to earn a seat on the international desk — however fairly one other to uphold the integrity it calls for. This UNSC victory should not turn into a masks for worsening human rights abuses at dwelling. Liberia’s elevated visibility brings elevated scrutiny.”
Morlu additionally referred to as on the Boakai administration to “harness the identical vitality and focus that earned this UNSC seat to urgently repair the damaged healthcare system, enhance schooling, and restore fundamental providers for hundreds of thousands trapped in poverty and neglect.”
He warned that “cracking down on peaceable protests can be a grave mistake, spotlighting harmful hypocrisy between Liberia’s international picture and home governance.”
Liberia will formally assume its UNSC seat in January 2026, positioning the nation to affect worldwide choices on peacekeeping, sanctions, and battle decision for 2 years.
