At the ongoing 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), held in Washington, D.C., Liberia has been officially elected alongside the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to serve as non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), representing Africa for the 2026–2027 term.
The nation secured 181 votes while DR Congo obtained 183 with a total of 188 ballots and 187 voters, and one vote abstained. Each state was required to get a two-thirds majority of 125 votes to be elected.
Liberia declared its candidacy for one of the two available seats allocated to the African Group in September 2023, during an announcement made during the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York, where the first Independent African Nation launched its campaign and began seeking endorsements from regional and international partners.
Liberia’s campaign, which emphasized her enduring commitment to peace, security, and development across the African continent, received strong endorsements from both the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU).
The election was conducted per established General Assembly procedures and regional rotation practices. It was presided over by H.E. Philemon Yang of Cameroon, President of the 79th UNGA Session, which began in September 2024 and will conclude in September 2025.
The process was carried out under Article 23 of the UN Charter, which states: “The General Assembly shall elect ten other Members of the United Nations to be non-permanent members of the Security Council, due regard being specially paid, in the first instance to the contribution of Members of the United Nations to the maintenance of international peace and security and to the other purposes of the Organization, and also to equitable geographical distribution.”
Each elected non-permanent member will serve a two-year term beginning on January 1, 2026, and concluding on December 31, 2027. To be elected, candidates must secure a two-thirds majority vote of the General Assembly.
Meanwhile, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., in a national address following the announcement, described the development as a pivotal moment in Liberia’s journey from conflict to credibility on the global stage. He asserted that the election serves as recognition of Liberia’s resilience, democratic gains, and enduring commitment to international cooperation.
“This is a moment of honor and humility for our 178-year-old republic. Our election is not just a national achievement; it symbolizes African perseverance and is a tribute to generations of Liberians who have held firm to freedom, self-governance, and global solidarity.”
The Liberian leader pledged Liberia’s active and principled participation in addressing global challenges, including climate insecurity, terrorism, and inequality. He said Liberia would prioritize conflict prevention, peacekeeping reform, and civilian protection, particularly for women and children.
“Drawing from our own experience of reconciliation and nation-building, we will promote conflict prevention, support peacekeeping reform, and champion the protection of civilians,” he said, while also reaffirming Liberia’s growing role as a troop-contributing country to UN missions.
To the African continent and the Global South, President Boakai promised solidarity and advocacy. “To our African brothers and sisters, we pledge to be your voice. To the global South, we offer solidarity,” he said, pledging constructive diplomacy “rooted in Liberia’s humility, honesty, and freedom values.”
The President paid homage to trailblazing Liberian diplomats and leaders, including the late Ambassador Angie Brooks-Randolph, the first African woman to preside over the UN General Assembly, and former President William R. Tolbert Jr., who championed African justice as central to global peace.
Boakai reflected on Liberia’s historical role as a founding member of the United Nations and the League of Nations, as well as its legacy of advocacy for African independence. He also acknowledged the international community’s role in Liberia’s post-conflict recovery, including the United Nations, ECOWAS, and the African Union.
“We remain grateful to the United Nations… and we especially pay tribute to the 202 United Nations peacekeepers who died in the cause of Liberia,” the President said, underscoring the country’s emergence from war to a stable democracy.
Highlighting Liberia’s first partial term on the Council in 1961, Boakai emphasized that the upcoming tenure carries a different meaning. “Unlike our first partial term, today’s election is a testament to our nation’s journey toward peace and reconciliation. It validates Liberia’s commitment to international peace and our readiness to contribute meaningfully at the highest level.”
He credited the achievement to the collective efforts of Liberian diplomats and government officials, including Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti and Liberia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, for leading a successful campaign across New York, Monrovia, and Addis Ababa.
Looking ahead, Boakai promised inclusive consultations across Liberia to ensure that the country’s voice on the Council reflects its people’s aspirations. “We will consult with women and youth nationwide to ensure our representation is inclusive and grounded,” he said.
He called on Liberians to unite and seize the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to global peace and security: “This victory is yours. When Liberia sits at the Council, it will be your hopes, resilience, and dreams that she will carry.”
Liberia’s engagement with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) dates back to its founding membership in the United Nations in 1945. As Africa’s oldest republic, Liberia has played both a beneficiary and contributor role within the UN system. While it has never held a permanent seat on the Council, Liberia was elected as a non-permanent member of the UNSC for the 1961–1962 term. During that time, the country actively participated in debates concerning decolonization and the emerging African voice within global diplomacy.
Most recently, Liberia’s relationship with the UNSC has been defined by its post-conflict recovery. The UNSC played a major role in stabilizing the country through peacekeeping missions such as UNMIL (United Nations Mission in Liberia), which was established in 2003 following two civil wars. Although Liberia has not returned to the Council since the early 1960s, it continues to engage with the UNSC through peace-building and regional security initiatives, demonstrating its commitment to international peace and cooperation.
