President Boakai Delivers First President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has delivered his first address at the United Nations General Assembly as President of Liberia.
At the session currently taking place in New York, the United States of America, President Boakai told the global gathering that the world has changed and the frontiers that the world is now embracing are different.
He said with the manner and form in which the globe is experiencing several challenges such as Innate greed, insensitivity to the poor, the international drug epidemic, money launderings, dynamics of climate change and the impact of social media among others must compel world leaders to rethink their approach to global peace and security.
He urged the United Nations to see the need to undergo the institutional and philosophical reflections required to respond to the new age.
The Liberian leader stated that as they assemble under the theme, ‘Unity in Diversity for the Advancement of Peace, Sustainable Development, and Human Dignity for Everyone Everywhere, It is important to recognize the shared values and collective efforts that come from their unity within diversity.
“We must acknowledge these as essential for advancing peace, sustainable development, and the inherent dignity of every human being worldwide and by doing so, we can build a better world where no one is left behind”, he noted.
Like other nations, President Boakai used the global forum to pledge Liberia’s recommitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.
He informed the gathering that since the end of the country’s conflict, Liberia have strived to follow a development path that will lead to building a capable state.
“Twelve years ago, we dared to dream of a future within the realm of possibility, harboring core national aspiration to transform the future, Namely ; Liberia Rising or Vision 2030, it has been the driving force behind all our planning efforts and the building blocks and tenets of Vision 2030 are significantly aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals”, he noted.
President Boakai speaking further also informed the global Assembly of his Government’s ARREST Agenda which he pointed is a comprehensive approach developed to address the economic and social needs of millions of Liberians, especially the youth, who account for sixty percent of the population.
With an emphasis on agriculture, roads and infrastructure development, justice and the rule of law, education, sanitation, health, and tourism, the agenda has mainstreamed the SDGs and is designed to take Liberia to the “finish” line of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), he added.
He indicated that the fight against poverty and the promotion of human dignity is a steadfast commitment by his administration stating that despite progress, poverty remains a significant challenge, with over half of Liberia’s population living below the poverty line.
The Sustainable Development Goals aim to eradicate poverty in all its forms by 2030, ensure social protection for the poor and vulnerable, and improve access to essential services.
He assured the body that Liberia is dedicated to assessing the levels and causes of poverty and implementing strategies to reduce it and promote shared prosperity.
“My Government also acknowledges the pressing need to address maternal and newborn mortality by implementing robust monitoring and evaluation of health services in the country to accelerate the reduction of maternal and newborn mortality”, he added.
President Boakai stressed that his government is particularly pleased with the United Nations H6 Joint Mission to Liberia earlier this year, which concluded with a commitment to combat the high burden of increasing newborn deaths.
At the same time, Liberia he said welcomed the UN General Assembly’s decision to declare July 25th as the International Day of Women and Girls of African descent this year such significant milestone, he noted acknowledges that women and girls of African descent have unique challenges and that the global fight against slavery and racism is necessary to achieve gender equality.
Historically, he reflected that Liberia credits its credentials by producing the first woman President of the UN General Assembly, Angie Brooks Randolph, and the first female President of Africa, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf adding that Liberia has witnessed and continues to witness the immense contributions of women and girls of African descent to politics, culture and in every area of societal development.
Speaking about peace and security, President Boakai told the gathering that Liberia has enjoyed uninterrupted peace for almost two decades following 14 years of civil conflict and during such time, Liberia he held four democratic elections, with last year’s election marking the fourth since the return to democratic order in 2006.
Additionally, in January of this year, he narrated that Liberia achieved a historic milestone by peacefully transitioning from one democratic government to another something he indicated is a significant progress because, before the 2018 transition, the last democratic transition occurred in 1944, about 74 years earlier.
He told the global gathering that Liberia is gradually fostering and solidifying a democratic culture, ensuring that democracy is here to stay in Liberia nothing that now it is time for Liberians to reap the democratic dividends.
President Boakai acknowledge that the rule of law is fundamental for peace, justice, strong institutions, and dignity for the human person.
He disclosed that Liberia is taking significant strides toward openness, transparency, and accountability by empowering and supporting transparency institutions.
” Our Government is committed to implementing audit recommendations by the General Audit Commission to restore public and donors’ confidence in the governance system and improve regional and international cooperation and in addition, the country has taken a major step in confronting its conflict past to ensure accountability and justice for crimes and other human rights violations committed during the war and promote healing and national reconciliation” he said.
He said that a significant development in Liberia’s transitional justice process was the signing on May 2, 2024, of Executive Order 131 to create the Office for the establishment of War and Economic Crimes Courts for Liberia, a key recommendation from the truth and reconciliation process in Liberia.
The Chief Executive stressed that Liberia’s actions align with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Joint Follow-Up on Impunity, and Past Human Rights Violations.
” As we embark on this process and acknowledge the enormity of this task, my government seeks the support of the United Nations, partners, and stakeholders in the pursuit of justice for victims, peace, and reconciliation”, he appealed to the global body.
He also informed the Assembly that Liberia is facing a drug crisis that is affecting the youth and jeopardizing the country’s future. This epidemic, driven by international criminal enterprises and their networks, poses a severe threat, he said.
However, President Boakai stated that in his government’s response to such issue,he has not only declared the drug epidemic a health emergency and a national security threat, but have also taken steps to address such issue by establishing a dedicated national body to tackle drug abuse in Liberia as such, i urge and appeal to the international community to join Liberia in addressing the escalating drug crisis.
Making reference to the global stage , he disclosed that the world is facing numerous crises, including global threats such as diseases, security, and climate change, as well as food and resource shortages.
“Our vulnerabilities are evident, and we need to use our collective knowledge to find solutions that will preserve the planet for future generations, Climate change is undeniably real, and its threat to our environment and way of life is becoming increasingly apparent as such , We must take urgent action to address this threat, including cooperative efforts to implement Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement”, he noted.
President Boakai told the globe that Liberia, as the most forested country in West Africa with over half of its land covered by forests, plays a vital role in biodiversity and environmental sustainability as a result, Liberia is taking important steps to lead the conversation on climate action.
“My Government has called on our Legislature and other stakeholders to begin looking at the Paris Agreement, particularly under Article 6 to help advance actions towards establishing Liberia’s Nationally Determined Contribution to combat climate change while we take these actions, we are mindful of the need to build capacity and invest in critical areas of our economy such as using alternative financing for investment in the blue and green economy, and technological transfer to support these climate actions”, he noted.
He informed that body that the goals his government set for itself and the future are better served on the foundation of peace and security especially having enjoyed peace for over two decades following a long-running conflict, Liberia has all reasons to aim to promote peace and stability at home, in the region, and globally.
The threat of conflicts to world, he stated underscores the importance of collaborative efforts to foster regional and global stability and peace as such, he call for support of all the UN’s efforts to address peace and security issues worldwide.
At the same time, he indicated that Liberia is concerned about the escalating security challenges in the West African region, including terrorism and economic and political instability such he said pose a significant threat to regional peace, and therefore stressed the need for full dialogue and cooperation among West African nations to address these issues effectively.
In said regard, he pledged Liberia’s firmed stands with the rest of West Africa in a bid to help resolve to maintain the fifty-year-old regional economic commission (ECOWAS) intact.
” We oppose efforts to disintegrate our union and will not accept the region being used for proxy conflicts and we look to the AU and the UN to support us in keeping the regional body united”, he sounded a warning.
Similarly, at the global level, President Boakai calls for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East to provide civilians with essential humanitarian relief.
“We urge both the Israelis and Palestinians to engage in negotiations toward lasting peace, including a two-state solution and we also we see the ongoing conflict in Ukraine as a threat to global peace and security as such, there is an urgent need for a peaceful resolution that also respects Ukraine’s territorial integrity”, he added.
According to the Liberian leader, This year’s assembly is a pivotal moment for Liberia’s bid to ascend to the African non-permanent seat of the UN Security Council 2026.
He told the Assembly that as Liberia proudly announce its candidacy, she look forward to the support of member states to vote Liberia overwhelmingly to the non-member seat of the Security Council, where Liberia can work with Council members to promote peace, justice, and security.
Liberia, he reassured the gathering is dedicated to promoting sustainable growth and ensuring human dignity for all.
At the same time, Liberia he said is prepared to work together with the United Nations, other global allies, and the international community to accomplish the Sustainable Development Goals and establish a fair, peaceful, and sustainable world.
“This commitment to unity is deeply ingrained in Liberia’s history as a founding member of the United Nations and other post-war international institutions, as well as regional and sub-regional organizations and it also affirms our strong belief in multilateralism and an international rules-based world built on shared values and principles crucial to our future”, he added.
President Boakai reiterated the need for the future of a more peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world and such must be all-encompassing, fair, and dignified for everyone worldwide.
