Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, has issued a strong call for the reform of the United Nations Security Council, stressing the need for a more equitable and representative global peace and security framework. Speaking in an interview with the BBC, Minister Nyanti highlighted Liberia’s unique history with peacekeeping and its growing role in shaping international peacebuilding efforts.
“We believe that the Security Council should start looking at countries from that perspective – not only individually, but from the broader lens of preventing wars and conflict,” Minister Nyanti said.
Her remarks follow Liberia’s recent election to a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, securing 181 votes from member states in the General Assembly. The position marks a significant milestone for the West African nation, once a recipient of UN peacekeeping forces, and now a contributor to global peace efforts.
“This seat is critical to Liberia,” Minister Nyanti stated. “It is part of our journey from receiving peacekeepers to becoming a part of peacekeeping and contributing to the world’s peacekeeping efforts. We want to be shapers of peacebuilding around the world.”
She underscored Liberia’s transformation from a post-conflict state to a development-focused nation, citing the country’s experience with one of the UN’s most successful peacekeeping missions. However, she acknowledged that Liberia’s past also holds valuable lessons about the challenges of post-conflict recovery, especially in youth reintegration and mental health.
“Peacekeeping reform will benefit from Liberia’s experiences,” she said. “At-risk youth today can be traced to shortcomings in reintegration programs where mental health and other long-term needs were not adequately addressed.”
Minister Nyanti emphasized that these insights will inform Liberia’s approach to the Security Council, pushing for peacekeeping models that are fit for purpose in today’s complex global landscape.
She also made a passionate appeal for structural reform within the Security Council itself.
“The UN Security Council should be reformed,” she urged. “A permanent seat for Africa is not a gift. It’s about equity. The current structure is not equitable when non-permanent members, who represent a significant portion of the world’s population, do not have an equal voice.”
Nyanti suggested a complete overhaul of the system, including reconsideration of veto power and the decision-making mechanisms.
“This is not just about rotation. It’s about fairness,” she added. “We need models that reflect the post-World War II context and adapt them to today’s realities.”
Liberia, she said, may be small in size, but it has a long and resonant voice in international affairs from being a founding member of the UN and the League of Nations, to its early leadership in Pan-Africanism and the establishment of the Organization of African Unity (OAU).
On global conflicts, Minister Nyanti reaffirmed Liberia’s alignment with the African bloc, advocating for a two-state solution in the Middle East and calling for humanitarian access, ceasefires, and the protection of civilian rights, particularly children.
“We must find different ways to deal with our conflicts. There should be dialogue, there should be a ceasefire, and ultimately, a two-state solution,” she emphasized.
As Liberia begins its tenure on the Security Council, Minister Nyanti outlined key priorities: women, peace, and security; youth, peace, and security; UN Security Council reform; peacekeeping reform; and the intersection of climate, natural resources, and conflict.
She also highlighted the strategic importance of regional cooperation, especially within the Mano River Union, urging the Security Council to consider regional dynamics in its approach to conflict prevention.
“The vulnerability of our neighbors is our vulnerability too. The Security Council must begin to look at countries not just in isolation but as part of a regional fabric that needs to be strengthened to prevent future conflicts,” she concluded.
Liberia’s presence on the UN Security Council, backed by its rich peacebuilding experience and commitment to equity, is expected to bring a distinctive and principled voice to global peace and security discussions.
