MONROVIA – In a move reflecting its commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, the Republic of Türkiye has dispatched an emergency accident response team to Roberts International Airport (RIA) following the incident that occurred on May 29, 2025. The intervention, announced by Liberia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, June 5, comes as part of a promise made by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during recent diplomatic engagements with the Liberian government.
According to the Ministry’s statement, the Turkish Government, through its Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, has sent a specialized team led by Mr. Altan Yasar Tekin to assess the circumstances surrounding the recent airport incident. The initiative highlights Türkiye’s growing role in supporting Liberia’s infrastructure and reflects Ankara’s broader strategy of economic and technical cooperation across Africa.
This emergency deployment precedes a scheduled visit by a high-level seven-member Turkish technical delegation expected in Liberia from June 10 to 13, 2025. The group will undertake a comprehensive review of RIA’s operational capacity. The delegation includes Mr. Levent Şenel, Deputy Head of Mission at the Turkish Embassy in Accra; civil engineers Mr. Süleyman Yılmaz and Mr. Bilal Özçelik; air traffic controller Mr. Alper Uzun; electrical engineer Mr. Mert Kayış; map technician Mr. Yavuz Boyuneğmez; and engineer Mr. Sefa Kartal.
The planned visit is a direct result of diplomatic efforts led by Liberia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, who in April 2025 formally communicated President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s desire for a government-to-government partnership with Türkiye aimed at modernizing Liberia’s main international airport. President Erdoğan responded positively, pledging both technical and financial support for a project aimed at elevating RIA to international standards and integrating it into Liberia’s broader economic development plans.
Speaking to the media, Türkiye’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, confirmed the upcoming visit and emphasized his country’s readiness to assist Liberia in upgrading safety protocols, infrastructure, and operations at the airport. “The delegation will assess current conditions and identify areas in need of urgent and long-term support. Today’s emergency deployment marks the beginning of a deeper, strategic partnership,” Minister Uraloğlu stated.
This latest initiative falls under Foreign Minister Nyanti’s larger economic diplomacy agenda, which seeks to build global partnerships that attract investment, boost infrastructure, and create sustainable employment opportunities for Liberians.
The Government of Türkiye reaffirmed its long-term commitment to collaborating with Liberia on critical development projects, particularly in the aviation sector, and looks forward to advancing mutual goals in the months ahead.
