This omission has fueled a political backlash. In a statement issued June 3, Weah congratulated President Boakai and his government for successfully concluding the campaign.
Monrovia – Liberia’s election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2026–2027 term marks a diplomatic milestone for the West African nation. Yet, the celebratory moment has been overshadowed by political discord over who deserves credit for the achievement.
By Selma Lomax | [email protected]
President Joseph Boakai’s address on Tuesday hailed Liberia’s victory as “a new chapter in our nation’s history,” emphasizing national resilience, dedication to peace, and Liberia’s commitment to global cooperation.
President Boakai praised the country’s diplomatic heritage by honoring past presidents Joseph Jenkins Roberts, Edwin Barclay, William V.S. Tubman, William R. Tolbert Jr., and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for their roles in Liberia’s international relations.
He also commended Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti and the diplomatic teams who finalized the effort. However, he sidestepped mentioning former President George Weah, whose administration launched and led the formal campaign to secure the UNSC seat.
This omission has fueled a political backlash. In a statement issued June 3, Weah congratulated President Boakai and his government for successfully concluding the campaign.
“Today marks a proud moment for our beloved country,” Weah said. “I extend heartfelt appreciation to the Government of Liberia, led by President Joseph Boakai, for ensuring that this monumental national aspiration came to a successful conclusion.” He also recognized regional partners including ECOWAS and the African Union for their support.
Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti defended the current administration’s role: “We believed in this cause. The previous administration had this vision but didn’t get the opportunity to implement it. We told them this will not die. We carried the torch forward, we exhausted every effort, and we said, with or without anyone’s approval, we will go.”
Opposition members from Weah’s Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) swiftly condemned Boakai’s failure to acknowledge the former president. Jefferson Koijee, former Monrovia mayor and CDC stalwart, called the omission “revisionist” and a “blatant disregard for facts.” Koijee recalled Weah’s 2023 State of the Nation Address, where he outlined the diplomatic strategy that secured Liberia’s UNSC seat within two years of his tenure.
Koijee challenged claims that the Boakai government spent $3.8 million in two months to “achieve” what was already secured, stating, “The truth, like the North Star, doesn’t move — it shines, steady and unshaken.”
Other CDC voices echoed the sentiment. Regan G. Saydee lamented, “To commend those who had no hand in this success while leaving out the person who laid the foundation is a sad reflection of Liberia’s political divide.” Torkpa Korkoryiza warned, “Boakai and his people will not be allowed to lie or take unmerited glory for this milestone. The facts are clear — it was President Weah who delivered the UNSC seat to Liberia.”
Nelson Rhodan, a CDC official, added, “The former president laid the foundation for this success. The current administration’s pretense that it started the process is disingenuous and disrespectful.”
Political analysts in Monrovia called Boakai’s silence a “missed opportunity for national unity.” One analyst told FrontPage Africa, “Boakai had the chance to demonstrate statesmanship by acknowledging his predecessor’s role in this national achievement but chose silence instead, likely for political reasons.”
Meanwhile, STAND, Liberia’s leading civil society coalition, released a statement praising Liberia’s UNSC victory but warning President Boakai to “view this historic moment not as a political trophy, but as a moral and constitutional turning point.” STAND Chairman Mulbah Morlu emphasized that Liberia’s leadership on the global stage “demands adherence to the rule of law and protection of civil liberties at home.”
Morlu cautioned, “It is one thing to earn a seat at the global table — but quite another to uphold the integrity it demands. This UNSC victory must not become a mask for worsening human rights abuses at home. Liberia’s increased visibility brings increased scrutiny.”
Morlu also called on the Boakai administration to “harness the same energy and focus that earned this UNSC seat to urgently fix the broken healthcare system, improve education, and restore basic services for millions trapped in poverty and neglect.”
He warned that “cracking down on peaceful protests would be a grave mistake, spotlighting dangerous hypocrisy between Liberia’s global image and domestic governance.”
Liberia will formally assume its UNSC seat in January 2026, positioning the country to influence international decisions on peacekeeping, sanctions, and conflict resolution for two years.
