By Jamesetta D Williams
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to global peacebuilding, describing the country’s transition from civil conflict to democratic stability as a testament to sustained international partnership and national determination.
The President’s message was delivered on his behalf by Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti during the Annual Session of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission, marking the 20th anniversary of the UN Peacebuilding Fund.
In his statement, President Boakai expressed gratitude to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and the Peacebuilding Support Office for inviting Liberia to participate in the anniversary celebration, noting that Liberia’s presence was deeply personal because of the country’s own experience emerging from years of civil conflict.
The President said Liberia’s journey from war to peace demonstrates that peacebuilding is not a one-time event but a continuous national process requiring commitment across generations.
Recalling the devastation of Liberia’s civil wars, Boakai noted that hundreds of thousands of Liberians were killed or displaced, institutions collapsed, and the country’s economy was severely weakened. However, he said the support of the United Nations and the Peacebuilding Fund played a critical role in helping Liberia rebuild.
According to the President, over the past two decades the Peacebuilding Fund has supported national reconciliation, rule of law initiatives, security sector reform, women’s participation in peacebuilding, youth empowerment, and land rights programs in several counties across Liberia.
He said those investments helped strengthen democratic institutions and contributed to Liberia’s successful conduct of three consecutive peaceful presidential elections, including the historic 2023 democratic transfer of power.
President Boakai also shared lessons from Liberia’s peacebuilding experience, emphasizing that lasting peace must be nationally owned, supported by honest reconciliation, and reinforced through development, good governance, education, healthcare, and economic opportunity.
He highlighted his administration’s efforts to promote national healing, including the state reburials of former Presidents Samuel K. Doe and William R. Tolbert Jr., a national apology to victims of Liberia’s civil wars, and ongoing efforts to establish a War and Economic Crimes Court.
The President said while these initiatives are difficult, confronting the country’s past is necessary to build a durable and lasting peace.
Looking ahead, Boakai said Liberia is prepared to contribute more actively to international peacebuilding efforts through its current role as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2026–2027 term.
He also urged the international community to invest not only in post-conflict recovery but also in conflict prevention by addressing youth unemployment, climate change, institutional mistrust, and other emerging threats to peace.
Concluding his remarks, President Boakai thanked the Peacebuilding Fund, donor countries, and development partners for their continued support to Liberia over the past two decades, reaffirming the country’s commitment to sharing its peacebuilding experience with other nations emerging from conflict.
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