Former Mines Minister Wilmot Paye Urges Caution as Liberia Takes UNSC Role

Monrovia — Liberia’s former Minister of Mines and Energy, Wilmot Paye, has cautioned the government against taking rash positions on global issues as the country assume a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), warning that missteps could expose the nation to dangerous geopolitical rivalries.

In a statement released on social media, Paye said Liberia must approach its two-year tenure on the powerful UN body with “caution and wisdom,” emphasizing that the seat should not be used for emotional or impulsive pronouncements on rapidly evolving global power struggles.

Drawing on Liberia’s history, Paye recalled that “unwise moves and utterances in the 1970s” exposed the country to intense Cold War rivalries, with long-lasting negative consequences. He argued that Liberia should avoid repeating such mistakes by focusing on a clear national strategy rather than reacting blindly to global dynamics.

According to the former minister, Liberia’s engagement at the UNSC should be guided primarily by its domestic realities. He stressed that the country must prioritize using its vast natural resources to fight poverty, meet citizens’ needs, and transform Liberia into “a productive and prosperous country, with adequate opportunities for all.”

“Our two-year tenure as a Non-Permanent Member on the United Nations Security Council should not deceive us into adopting a rash posture that catapults Liberia into the firing line of any unpredictable global power play,” Paye said, adding that internal development should inform foreign policy decisions.

Paye also reflected on the legacy of former President William R. Tolbert, suggesting that Liberia might have suffered less from Cold War pressures had the administration stayed focused on domestic development policies such as “Total Involvement for Higher Heights,” “From Mats to Mattress,” and industrialization.

While welcoming Liberia’s election to the UNSC as a diplomatic achievement, Paye cautioned against overestimating its impact. He said the seat does not guarantee world peace nor does it signify that Liberia has fully resolved its internal challenges.

“This is a recognition of Liberia’s historic role and genuine reentry into the world community,” he noted. “It is not any guarantee that we have achieved internal cohesion. We are in a fragile region.”

Liberia is expected to begin its term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council amid growing global tensions and shifting alliances, making Paye’s call for restraint and strategic focus particularly timely.