Monrovia, Liberia – The Liberian government has formally contacted former Presidents George Manneh Weah, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and others requesting their support for the country’s UNSC bid as the discussion of Liberia’s nonpermanent seat at the UN Security Council (UNCS) continues. This comes ahead of the September 27, 2024 official campaign start at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Aiming for a seat on the UNSC, Liberia aspires to increase its voice in concerns of world peace and security. The administration is stressing Liberia’s past accomplishments as a founding UN member and their 1961 non-permanent UNSC membership.
Mr. Weah and Madam Sirleaf have also been asked to accompany other eminent Liberans, President Joseph Boakai and Nobel Laureate Leymah Gbowee, at the official UN launch. Their participation is expected to draw attention to Liberia’s transformation from a nation emerging from war to one today supporting world peacekeeping operations.
Though their invitations to these former leaders are deliberate acts, they also reflect their legacies. Renowned for his work as a peace ambassador, former President Weah has been invited to accompany other eminent Liberians and present a one-minute video endorsing the initiative.
A letter from the Foreign Ministry dated September 6, 2024 suggests that Weah’s participation will highlight Liberia’s development from a post-conflict state to a country supporting world peacekeeping operations.
Admired worldwide as a peace ambassador, Mr. Weah is under fire at home over his domestic leadership, especially in relation to addressing economic and governance issues during his presidency.
Likewise, Madam Sirleaf’s leadership won her compliments abroad, particularly on matters of corruption and post-war reconstruction.
Former Presidents Weah, Sirleaf, and other important players in this effort are considered as both a chance and a problem as Liberia strives to improve its worldwide profile. Their support may either unite the country behind the proposal or create the avenue for more political discussion, therefore complicating Liberia’s attempts to land this esteemed position.
