Final week, Liberian President Joseph Boakak was amongst 5 African heads of states invited by US President Donald J. Trump for a three-day summit in Washington DC, eyeing what Washington described as an “unbelievable” business alternative. In addition to President Boakai, the leaders of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania and Senegal have been additionally in attendance – and all representing international locations with small populations and economies.
The invite adopted final month’s peace deal signed in Washington between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo which additionally led to the US gaining profitable mineral entry to the 2 international locations. At a time when the US is dealing with elevated competitors from rival powers – together with China and Russia – for its prized assets, eyes have been targeted on how the 5 invited international locations would deal with the delicacy of America’s international coverage shift and method to Africa.
It was the backdrop from which President Boakai and plenty of Liberians have been hoping such a gathering would focus. Chatters have been additionally abound that the US is considering sending scores of deportees and vicitms of President Trump’s huge immigration crackdown to the 5 African international locations. It’s from this background that we sat down with President Boakai for a quick interview on what transpired behind the scenes, his takeaway from a summit eclipsed by President Trump’s reward of President Boakai’s “stunning english” and his tackle the controversy surrounding the Ivanhoe/HPX encroachment on ArcelorMittla rail entry from Guinea. The President additionally addresses his reign up to now and the way he’s dealing with echoes of rising variety of his officers overtly harboring presidential ambitions and the way it’s affecting his governance and management.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: Mr. President, what would you say is your largest takeaway from the summit of the 5 African leaders and President Donald J. Trump?
PRESIDENT JOSEPH NYUMAH BOAKAI: I imagine that it’s a good alternative to get to satisfy the brand new management, to additionally get to really feel the course that they’re taking and that by the way, that is alleged to be a international coverage that’s primarily based on financial diplomacy and business – and actually we’re already on observe. So, we simply got here to get acquainted with them – and make it possible for all of us align ourselves with what it’s they need to do. We need to see a Liberia that can be transactional, a Liberia that may search after creating its personal assets and make them out there for its personal citizenry. So, it was a great alternative to get it from the horse’s mouth.
FPA: Previous to this assembly, Liberia was elected to the United Nations Safety Council. There was plenty of effort and marketing campaign out of your administration to make this occur. What are your expectations and what does it imply in your authorities and Liberia as a complete?
JNB: By the way, Liberia occurs to be the nation that was a founding member of the United Nations, from the League of Nations to the UN – and we imagine this is a chance. Speaking about our personal historical past, we’ve been like a hassle little one throughout the Comity of Nations, they’ve given us an opportunity now to point out that we’re matured, that we’re accountable and that we can convey to the desk, all of the information now we have, to contribute to a wider society. And we’re ready to try this.
FPA: You talked about in the course of the press name yesterday, a request for the US to undertake a survey of minerals in Liberia. What do you hope it will do for Liberia and does it coincide with an identical survey carried out by the Chinese language, talked about in your annual message in January?
JNB: China did two counties, Lofa and Maryland – and so they stated that now we have forty-seven
minerals, very strategic. We need to know, the minerals now we have in the complete nation. It can give us a greater alternative to plan for the usage of our mineral and the administration of it. Actually, I’m feeling that it’s about time that we all know that in order that we plan which of them are extra strategic – and that we will handle them for the advantage of Liberians. The US has the talents, and we imagine they too, as a result of as a substitute of simply sitting and complaining, we wish them to be part of it. We don’t have the expertise they’ve. So, it will likely be useful for all of them to share this information and we will use it to our benefit.
FPA: Once we spoke a while in the past, previous to your ascendancy to the presidency, you have been hopeful of a Liberia the place corruption wouldn’t be so prevalent, that public officers would respect the needs of the Liberian folks. Has something modified now that you’re president?
JNB: I used to be involved, I’m involved; and I can be involved about corruption. I stated one time that corruption is poison – take a look at Liberia, 178 years outdated we can be celebrating. What do now we have to point out, what does it say about our society? Why will we lose all these those that have been educated to international international locations? If we handle our assets effectively, if folks don’t imagine that they arrive to energy simply to complement themselves, we’ll so discover out that every one can profit, that we will acquire and the society can be higher. I don’t need to go dwell elsewhere, it’s too late now as a result of it is a determination I made years in the past. Corruption has been the issue – and I believe if we struggle it as we try to do now, we’ll so see that folks will perceive that we’re in critical enterprise to struggle corruption. I’m not going to say that corruption is a vampire, so we should present that it’s – and we should struggle it.
FPA: How happy are you along with your administration’s struggle towards graft? What are among the challenges? Shortcomings?
JNB: Effectively, the challenges are that we inherited among the folks – and that additionally that being the Liberian method, folks need to be satisfied that we’re critical – and we should show that we’re critical. And allow them to not take it for joke, we’re right here to struggle corruption – and we’ll struggle it to the lifeless finish.
FPA: Previous to the dialogue with President Trump, rather a lot was made about issues that the US is attempting to get some African international locations to simply accept deportees associated to immigration violations within the US as prisoners. Actually, the Wall Avenue Journal in a report this week alludes to this, citing state division and senior administration officers. Was this a part of any behind the scenes discussions with the US President?
JNB: Speaking with the Individuals – even earlier than I got here and after – and whilst current as yesterday I didn’t get the impression that the Individuals have been placing a gun to anyone’s head to signal something. What the Individuals are saying is that they’ve asylum seekers which have been right here for years – and so they prefer to ship them in a foreign country, elsewhere. They aren’t forcing anyone however they need for us to know that it’s a concern they’ve. And they’re asking how can we contribute or how can we assist and now we have assured them that for the connection, it’s an equal concern however it’s one thing that now we have to consider, if and once they determine to ask us, we’ll know the way to reply to it.
FPA: In a gathering with Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau Wednesday, your authorities was lauded for the settlement to extend multi-user entry to Liberia’s railway to additional facilitate financial growth. There are issues that your administration has been pressured by the US on this problem when in reality, ArcelorMittal already has an settlement in place on this. How is your administration hoping to repair this and the way do you assume Mittal is accepting this new association? Do you assume the 2 corporations can coexist in that house?
JNB: They haven’t any selection as a result of we want them each, we all know the worth they create to the society however we’re in one of the best place to find out how we will make use of all people having equal entry, all people having the chance to make use of it – after which, future customers, together with ourselves, prolonged use of the railway for apart from iron ore. So, we’re placing into place, mechanisms – and for everyone, it will likely be a win-win for all as a result of, primary, we need to have a rail authority. The rail authority will put up a young, the tender will produce a administration that may be capable to work with all people on equal foundation. The opposite one who can do that is Liberia.
FPA: Over the previous few months, there was criticisms that too many members of your Cupboard – and authorities are quietly harboring future presidential ambitions – and this seems to be affecting some side of your hope of getting plenty of issues carried out for the Liberian folks. How are you dealing with this problem, contemplating your two former predecessors endure related challenges?
JNB: It simply so occurs that over time, due to the character of management, presidential ambition now had been on the rise. I believe we need to make it possible for we put in a authorities that’s chargeable for the present lifetime of the folks – and the long run lives of the folks – and people individuals who see, work with us and perceive the place we’re going – and who perceive that the long run management, it determines for the current use of the alternatives of the presidency, those that don’t perceive it – and who’re in a rush, we need to inform them, they’re within the improper place.
FPA: Mr. President, what are your expectations in your legacy, what do you need to be remembered for when your presidency is accomplished?
JNB: After I got here to energy, I wasn’t on the lookout for second time period, I’m right here to make the Liberians know that we’re right here to raised their lives, we’re right here to serve them. The bible says, he who that’s trustworthy – in that which is least is trustworthy and that which is far. We should present the Liberians now that we’re involved about them – and we’re not fascinated with what it will likely be tomorrow. It’s about at the moment. And that’s the form of authorities that I’m placing into place. I’m not on the lookout for that. I’m on the lookout for a authorities that works for the folks, a authorities that produces wholesome residents, youths and ensure there’s meals on the desk and that folks can dwell within the nation, have electrical energy, water and dwell the life that they yearn for. That’s my concern proper now. Those that assume that they need the tomorrow, they’ll rise up and wait for his or her tomorrow.
FPA: Lastly, are you proud of the efficiency of the members of your Cupboard? Ought to the Liberian folks anticipate a reshuffle quickly? There was plenty of chatters over the previous few months concerning this.
JNB: Typically, I name a easy reshuffle as rotating the rascals, you’re taking one rascal from a place and put in one other rascal. I desire a reshuffle from a conviction. I’ve watched the individuals who work for me, I’m studying now to know who I can belief, who assume like me, who imagine like me – and I’m going to try this. I’m not going to make anyone push me into, however I’m decided to work with the folks I work with, and it received’t take lengthy. You already know, now we have changed so many individuals already – and we should proceed to try this. Those that we imagine aren’t there for the nice of the nation, they’re leaving. So, it might not be a mass reshuffle however it’s going down.
