Monrovia – Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti has rejected speculation linking her to Liberia’s ongoing multi-million-dollar cocaine investigation, insisting that her role has been to mobilize international support for the country’s anti-drug campaign.
By Webster Clayeh, webster.clayeh@frontpageafricaonline.com
At the same time, the Open Society Foundation-Liberia (OSF-Liberia) has defended her character, describing attempts to associate her with criminal activity as baseless and unsupported by evidence.
The coordinated defense comes as Liberia continues investigating what authorities describe as one of the country’s largest cocaine seizures, a case that has resulted in multiple arrests, dismissals of public officials and expanded cooperation with international law enforcement agencies.
Speaking Thursday during the Ministry of Information’s regular press briefing, Nyanti reaffirmed the Boakai administration’s commitment to combating narcotics trafficking, saying President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. has directed government officials to pursue the fight through “strategy, facts and results.”
“The objective is clear: Liberia will not become a narco state,” Nyanti declared. “President Boakai has been keen and consistent; he has made it clear to us at cabinet level and in bilateral engagements that this administration will be guided by strategy, facts, and results.”
Global Diplomatic Offensive
Nyanti used the briefing to outline what she described as Liberia’s growing diplomatic role, noting that the country is currently coordinating the African Group of Three (A3) and the Elected Ten (E10) at the United Nations Security Council.
She said Liberia has become an increasingly influential voice on international peace and security issues, revealing that foreign ministers have sought Liberia’s position on key global matters.
The Foreign Minister also highlighted Liberia’s diplomatic engagement in Sudan and South Sudan, saying the country’s growing international profile has enabled it to play a constructive role in regional peace efforts.
“These are the big things Liberia is doing that we don’t always talk about because of the sensitive nature of global security,” she said. “We are meeting world leaders. We are moving into territories that are dangerous because Liberia’s voice now matters.”
International Support for Drug Investigation
Addressing the ongoing drug investigation, Nyanti said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its membership on the National Security Council, has been coordinating international support for Liberia’s law enforcement agencies.
She disclosed that Liberia has engaged partners including the United States, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Morocco and Rwanda to strengthen the investigation.
According to Nyanti, she personally contacted officials in the White House Situation Room and the U.S. National Security Council at the request of the Inspector General of Police using briefing points prepared by the Solicitor General.
“Within 24 to 48 hours, we had U.S. Department of Justice personnel boots on the ground to help expand the scope of this investigation,” she said.
She emphasized that while international partners are providing technical assistance, prosecutions will remain under Liberian jurisdiction.
“This is a Liberia matter. Anyone who violated our laws will be prosecuted here on our soil, under Liberian law. Our partners are here to support our investigation, not to take our citizens away.”
Clarifying Diplomatic Cargo
Responding to public speculation surrounding diplomatic shipments, Nyanti stressed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not ship, inspect or handle diplomatic cargo.
Under the Vienna Convention, she explained, diplomatic missions are entitled to duty-free diplomatic pouches, while the Ministry’s Chief of Protocol merely certifies diplomatic status before requests are processed by the Liberia Revenue Authority.
“We do not see, handle, or know the contents of diplomatic shipments,” she said.
Nyanti challenged anyone with credible evidence linking her or the Ministry to wrongdoing to submit it to the Joint Security or National Security Council.
“When you make accusations without evidence, you are not just targeting me. You are undermining our bilateral relations and the very partners who are helping us win this fight.”
Open Society Rallies Behind Nyanti
Nyanti’s public defense came as the Open Society Foundation-Liberia issued a strongly worded statement rejecting what it described as attempts to tarnish the Foreign Minister’s reputation by linking her to the country’s cocaine investigation without credible evidence.
The organization said it “categorically rejects any attempt to associate the Minister’s name with criminal conduct without verifiable, credible evidence.”
“Character assassination is not accountability,” the organization stated. “Public scrutiny is a pillar of democracy, but it must be rooted in facts, documents, and evidence—not in rumors or social media speculation.”
OSF-Liberia said while it supports ongoing investigations by the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency, Liberia National Police, Ministry of Justice and international partners, allegations against public officials must be supported by evidence rather than speculation.
The organization warned that using national security issues for political point-scoring risks distracting investigators, undermining public confidence and damaging Liberia’s international credibility.
‘The Diplomat Who Answered the Crisis’
The Foundation argued that Nyanti’s actions since the cocaine seizure stand in stark contrast to the allegations circulating against her.
According to OSF-Liberia, it was Nyanti who initiated diplomatic engagement with international partners at the request of Liberia’s security leadership, helping secure technical and operational support from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and strengthening cooperation with the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Spain, Serbia, the Netherlands and Morocco.
The organization also credited her with coordinating international assistance for the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency, Liberia National Police, Liberia Immigration Service, Financial Intelligence Agency and Ministry of Justice through her role on the National Security Council.
By leveraging Liberia’s current seat on the United Nations Security Council, OSF-Liberia said Nyanti has projected the country as “a responsible and proactive partner in the fight against organized crime.”
Career Under Scrutiny
OSF-Liberia also pointed to Nyanti’s more than two decades of service with the United Nations—including senior assignments in Yemen, Nepal and South Sudan—as evidence of a career built on international diplomacy and crisis management.
The Foundation noted that her tenure as Foreign Minister has already been marked by Liberia’s successful election to a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2026-2027 term.
Supporters argue that her diplomatic record is inconsistent with the allegations now circulating and that, rather than contributing to the country’s drug crisis, she has been working to secure international assistance to confront it.
Call for Responsible Public Discourse
Concluding her remarks, Nyanti urged Liberians to avoid misinformation and support the country’s efforts to strengthen its international reputation.
“We have worked for decades to reposition Liberia. We now have a new face and a new name. When we tear each other down, we are tearing Liberia down. Let us be credible. Let us work together.”
She also commended the Inspector General of Police, the Solicitor General and members of the Joint Security for coordinating the country’s response to the drug investigation, maintaining that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs remains “part of the solution” in Liberia’s fight against transnational narcotics trafficking.
