Monrovia – The Authorities of Türkiye has dispatched an emergency accident response workforce to the Roberts Worldwide Airport (RIA) forward of a high-level technical mission scheduled for subsequent week.
The emergency deployment follows a latest incident on the airport and comes as a part of Türkiye’s dedication to assist modernize Liberia’s aviation infrastructure.
The Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure confirmed that the workforce, headed by Mr. Altan Yasar Tekin, was despatched to Liberia to evaluate the airport’s security circumstances and conduct a preliminary investigation into the incident that occurred on Might 29.
Türkiye’s involvement in Liberia’s airport infrastructure comes on account of a diplomatic overture earlier this yr, when Liberia’s Minister of International Affairs, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, held talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
In the course of the engagement, International Minister Nyanti conveyed the curiosity of President Joseph Boakai in establishing a government-to-government partnership geared toward upgrading RIA — the nation’s most important worldwide gateway — to fashionable international requirements.
Türkiye’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, H.E. Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, emphasised the importance of the mission. “The delegation will assess present circumstances and determine areas in want of pressing and long-term assist. At this time’s emergency deployment marks the start of a deeper, strategic partnership,” Minister Uraloğlu mentioned in a press release to the media.
The Turkish delegation, anticipated to reach in Liberia between June 10 and 13, is comprised of a multidisciplinary workforce of consultants.
The seven-member group contains Mr. Levent Şenel, Deputy Head of Mission on the Turkish Embassy in Accra; civil engineers Mr. Süleyman Yılmaz and Mr. Bilal Özçelik; air site visitors controller Mr. Alper Uzun; electrical engineer Mr. Mert Kayış; map technician Mr. Yavuz Boyuneğmez; and common engineer Mr. Sefa Kartal.
Their mission might be to hold out a complete technical audit of RIA’s infrastructure, together with security protocols, air site visitors methods, electrical and structural parts, and spatial mapping. Findings from the evaluation will information a roadmap for focused enhancements and long-term investments.
RIA, situated in Margibi County, serves as Liberia’s major worldwide airport and is a vital element of the nation’s transportation community. Nonetheless, the airport has confronted recurring challenges together with outdated infrastructure, frequent energy outages, and insufficient security mechanisms. These points have lengthy drawn criticism from vacationers and aviation professionals alike, elevating issues about Liberia’s readiness to fulfill regional aviation requirements.
International Minister Nyanti, who has been main Liberia’s push for financial diplomacy, mentioned the collaboration with Türkiye is geared toward remodeling the nation’s vital infrastructure and boosting investor confidence. She famous that the aviation sector is essential to Liberia’s efforts to boost commerce, tourism, and worldwide connectivity.
“This partnership with Türkiye isn’t just about airport rehabilitation,” a senior official on the Ministry of International Affairs mentioned. “It’s a part of a broader technique to stimulate financial progress, generate employment, and improve Liberia’s enchantment as a vacation spot for enterprise and growth.”
As a part of its rising engagement with Africa, Türkiye has prioritized infrastructure and technical cooperation with growing nations. Its assist for Liberia aligns with Ankara’s wider international coverage targets of strengthening partnerships throughout the continent via commerce, funding, and capability constructing.
The Turkish authorities has assured Liberia that its dedication extends past the rapid emergency response. Throughout their keep, the technical delegation can even meet with Liberian authorities, together with the Ministries of Public Works and Transport, in addition to the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority and the Liberia Airport Authority, to debate long-term cooperation.
Whereas the complete scope of the Might 29 incident stays beneath investigation, the fast mobilization of the Turkish response workforce underscores the urgency of addressing operational gaps at RIA. Liberia’s aviation authorities have but to launch a proper report on the incident, however early indications counsel that it uncovered important vulnerabilities in airport security methods.
Native aviation consultants have welcomed the Turkish help, calling it a well timed intervention that would sign a turning level for Liberia’s aviation sector. “That is the form of technical collaboration we have to transfer ahead,” mentioned one official with information of airport operations. “It’s not nearly fixing what’s damaged—it’s about constructing resilience and guaranteeing our methods meet worldwide requirements.”
