Addis Ababa, Ethiopia –Amidst the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly, the government of Liberia held a High-Level Consultation on Saturday regarding the future of the UN and the election of the next Secretary-General. Three current presidents, two vice presidents, two previous heads of state, eleven foreign ministers, and ambassadors and permanent representatives from about 25 nations gathered for the closed-door breakfast meeting, which was hosted by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
Seeking to foster unity, strategic clarity, and proactive African leadership at what it called a turning point for global governance, Liberia organized the meeting in February 2026 in New York in its capacity as Chair of the African Group.
Concerns regarding institutional efficacy, legitimacy, and responsiveness—particularly in the areas of peace and security, sustainable development, and the objectives of the Global South have been on the rise as the UN gets ready to pick its next Secretary-General.
President Boakai emphasized the need for inclusive, structural reforms based on Member State circumstances, while also stressing the UN’s continued important role. He reaffirmed Africa’s strong dedication to multilateralism, pointing out that the continent plays a crucial role in furthering the UN’s peace and development agenda and that Liberia is one of the four original signatories to the UN Charter.
Given Africa’s sizeable portion of UN membership and increasing geopolitical influence, leaders taking part in the consultation agreed that the continent must be given a major say in the next UN Secretary-General appointment. The establishment of a coalition of willing nations, represented by their foreign ministers, to cooperate with the African Three (A3) members of the UN Security Council in promoting established selection criteria was approved by the participants.
Currently, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, and Liberia make up the A3. Rwanda, Angola, Egypt, Ethiopia, Guinea, Libya, and Nigeria were among the nations that attended the meeting. The consultation confirmed the necessity of guiding principles focused on preserving and bolstering multilateralism, protecting the interests of the Global South, reestablishing confidence in international organizations, improving efficient delivery, and guaranteeing leadership that can successfully negotiate a fractured global order.
In order to gain support for Africa’s stance on the appointment of the Secretary-General and more general UN reform, the coalition, in close collaboration with the A3, intends to approach the Permanent Five (P5) members of the Security Council.
For the purpose to promote the Common African Position, leaders also pledged to continue coordinating with the African Union Committee of Ten (C10) on UN Reform. The urgent necessity for African unity in the face of what leaders characterized as a global crisis posing an existential threat to multilateralism was a major focus of the informal consultation.
President Boakai emphasized that in order to shape the course of global governance, Africa must act strategically and speak with a single voice. He reaffirmed Africa’s duty and right to influence change and leadership at the UN, saying the region cannot afford to be a passive observer.
The conversation ended with a mutual commitment to ongoing communication and cooperation in support of Africa’s common agenda, and it is a component of Liberia’s larger diplomatic participation during its 2026–2027 term on the UN Security Council.
