Accra, Ghana – President Joseph N. Boakai has issued a serious warning to African Leaders on Friday. The Liberian Leader on January 30, 2026, noted that West Africa is facing an existential security crisis and that no country in the region will remain safe if its neighbors are destabilized by terrorism, violent extremism, and transnational crime.
In his statement at the High-Level Consultative Conference on Regional Cooperation and Security in Accra-Ghana, President Boakai called the recent events in Niger a “rude awakening” and emphasized the need for coordinated regional action to address new and developing security issues.
President Boakai informed fellow head of states and senior official that, “The reality is simple and unforgiving. None of us can be peaceful and stable if any of us is insecure and terrorized. Liberia is not safe if an inch of Ghana is in terror.”
The Liberian leader, drawing from his country’s own painful history of civil conflict, stressed that wars have no boundaries and leave nations “wrecked and development stalled.”
Liberia’s strong commitment to conflict prevention at the national, regional, and international levels has been shaped by the fact that the country still bears the wounds of violent conflict, he said. Terrorism, violent extremism, cybercrime, illicit mining, arms proliferation, human trafficking, drug abuse, maritime instability, resource conflicts driven by climate change, and rising young unemployment are just a few of the several risks Boakai listed for the sub-region.
He cautioned that in some parts of the region, state authority is now directly threatened by non-state groups that thrive on anarchy. Ambassador Boakai issued a warning that economic hardship, unemployment, poverty, and insecurity are being exacerbated by global polarization and dwindling multilateral collaboration, especially in smaller and more vulnerable economies.
“We are facing a new era of competition instead of cooperation, and the consequences are severe for our people,” he said.
Boakai reiterated Liberia’s support for regional and multilateral solutions, pointing out that Liberia is actively promoting regional approaches to security and peacebuilding as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. He maintained that removing cross-border networks that contribute to instability is necessary in order to effectively address crises at their epicenters.
The Liberian leader applauded the work of intelligence chiefs and security ministries for delivering a detailed review and policy suggestions, expressing his government’s full commitment to adopting agreed objectives. He emphasized that increasing collaboration in education, training, healthcare, and cultural exchange as well as activating already-existing regional economic channels are necessary to combat youth unemployment and drug usage.
President Boakai presented the meeting as a survival issue rather than a diplomatic one in a strong closing statement. He declared, “We are not here by choice. We must act immediately and together, or we will perish together.”
