Monrovia, Liberia – Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the Nobel Peace Prize winner and former president of Liberia, has praised the nation’s transition from war-torn collapse to post-conflict rebuilding as a potent example of what can be accomplished with both foreign assistance and domestic resiliency.
During a United Nations Peace-building Commission (PBC) function, she spoke via video message and characterized Liberia as a nation that has suffered greatly but today represents tenacity and optimism.
Madam Johnson-Sirleaf said, “Liberia’s story is one of pain, but also of promise. A country that was once brought to its knees by protracted conflict now serves as a testament to what is possible when international solidarity strengthens national will.”
Her comments came as the global community considered the 20 years since the 2003 Accra Peace Agreement, which put an end to Liberia’s 14-year civil conflict.
In a historic step toward peace, the deal, which was mediated in Ghana, united the government, opposing groups, and political interests. In addition to calling for ceasefires, the former Liberian leader emphasized that the post-conflict era required reconstructing Liberia from the bottom.
Critical institutions such as the judiciary, civil society, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, and the Central Bank have to be reorganized or established from scratch, according to Madam Sirleaf.
She stated, “We knew we couldn’t go back to the Liberia that used to be. We had to create a new country based on justice, openness, inclusivity, and hope instead.”
Former President Johnson-Sirleaf acknowledged how important women were in promoting peace, planning advocacy campaigns, facilitating community mediation, and assisting with grassroots reconciliation. She emphasized that the nation could not achieve peace on its own.
Through peacekeeping, development assistance, and diplomacy, she praised regional and international partners such as the African Union, the European Union, the United Nations, ECOWAS, and other global players for their unwavering dedication.
The message of former president Johnson-Sirleaf is both a reflection and a reminder that although the path to peace is a long and difficult one, it is still full of hope and far from done with continuous international cooperation and national commitment.
“The foundation for the peace we are fortunate to experience today was laid by international engagement technical, financial, and moral,” she said.
She noted persistent issues, such as economic instability, shoddy governance systems, and a growing population of young Liberians who want more opportunity and inclusion, even as she celebrated achievements. “We have made great strides, but Liberia’s peace is still a work in progress.”
Voices from a variety of international peace-building backgrounds were also represented at the discussion. Mamadou Tangara, the foreign minister of the Gambia, said that the post-conflict recovery in Liberia is a crucial benchmark for the Peace-building Commission’s global efforts.
“Its prompt action and decisive intervention at a pivotal moment continues to be a historic milestone, a model for global solidarity and diplomacy,” he stated.
Today’s international conflicts are become more complicated, protracted, and difficult to resolve, according to Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peace-building Affairs.
“The role of the Peace-building Commission is more important than ever in such a climate. The Commission’s work remains indispensable at a time when negotiated peace is harder to achieve,” DiCarlo said.
She cited the UN member states’ 2024 adoption of the Pact for the Future, which reaffirmed the significance of strengthening women, youth, and civil society in the process of promoting peace.
A stronger, more integrated PBC with closer ties to organizations like the UN Security Council was also demanded by the Agreement. “We have to make that vision a reality. The Commission is no longer a young organization; in fact, its significance is greater now than it has ever been,” DiCarlo stated.
The diplomat concluded by underscoring the need for the Peace-building Commission to have stronger funding, more authority, and close ties to regional and global financial institutions in order to realize its full potential.
“We need to prepare the Commission to tackle today’s issues and fulfill its mandate for a world with greater peace,” she said.
