Monrovia – Former President George Manneh Weah might have disappointed both critics and supporters who believed, due to his successor’s hostile treatment toward him and the former administration in general, that he would be unwilling to accept the current government’s request to support Liberia’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
In a special statement announcing the former Liberian leader’s willingness to support the Boakai administration in achieving its UNSC non-permanent member bid—a bid initiated by the former administration—Weah catalogued a host of prevailing domestic challenges that undermine democratic consolidation and peace amid the call for a collective national effort to win the bid.
The statement, signed by the former President’s Chief of Staff Eugene Lenn Nagbe, noted that the “current domestic landscape presents challenges that could undermine and derail the essence of our bid.”
“For example, on Thursday, August 22, 2024, the Liberia National Police, without presenting any search warrant, raided the headquarters of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), firing live ammunition, surrounding the building with armed men, and injuring many partisans. This unprovoked attack on our political party headquarters is an alarming sign of the administration’s disregard for political freedoms, the rule of law, and national unity. Such actions, along with many others that have been well catalogued, directly contradict the ideals of democracy and peace that form the foundation of the United Nations Charter and the very principles the Security Council must uphold.”
According to the office of the former President, following the August 22, 2024 incident, former President Weah immediately communicated with Omar Alieu Turay, President of the ECOWAS Commission, urging ECOWAS to take proactive diplomatic steps to ensure that Liberia’s democracy is not jeopardized by the administration’s misuse of power.
“The use of state resources to stifle dissent and target political opponents poses a serious threat to Liberia’s democratic stability,” the communication noted.
Perhaps drawing on the perception of a “schism and duality of policy” in the Boakai administration, Mr. Eugene Nagbe stated that after receiving the letter from Minister Beyslow-Nyanti asking Weah to help campaign for the UNSC seat, “the spokesman of the government at the Ministry of Information went on a juvenile, sophomoric rant while purportedly giving the administration’s position on the issue, in a vain attempt to denigrate former President Weah.”
“Such disingenuous behavior, wherein one ministry of government writes to a former President while another hurls disrespectful invectives at him, points to an apparent schism in the ranks and a duality of policy within the government that poses a risk to the bid.”
The former President’s office used its response to the request for support in the government’s fight for a UNSC seat to accuse the Unity Party administration of not doing much to foster reconciliation and unification, but rather of “fueling division and retribution.”
“These actions are at odds with the values that the United Nations stands for: respect for human rights, the rule of law, and the peaceful resolution of conflicts,” Nagbe further stated in the communication. “In spite of the commitments made by regional and continental bodies, ECOWAS and the AU, these are potential threats that could erode confidence and unravel the bid.”
The communication affirmed that “while the former President supports Liberia’s aspiration for a seat on the Security Council, he emphasizes that our internal actions must reflect the values we seek to promote globally.” However, it noted that to credibly pursue this seat and restore Liberia’s rightful place on the international stage at the UNSC, the government must recommit to good governance, the protection of political freedoms, and the rule of law.
It is only by addressing these internal challenges, consolidating diplomatic gains, and re-engaging bilateral and multilateral partners that “we can present ourselves as a viable candidate for the Security Council—one that truly embodies the ideals of peace and security, justice, and the rule of law under a vibrant democratic dispensation.”
Perfunctory and superficial publicity stunts, such as a photo-op at the UN headquarters on September 27, 2024, are not what is required; rather, firm and genuine actions of diplomacy and good governance are necessary, the former President’s statement asserted.
At the onset of the statement, the Office of the Former President of the Republic of Liberia (2018-2024), His Excellency George Manneh Weah, acknowledged receipt of a letter (RL/MFA/2/S010021/’24) signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Honorable Sarah Beysolow-Nyanti.
It stated: “We appreciate the recognition by Minister Beysolow-Nyanti of the numerous contributions made by Former President Weah towards the maintenance of peace and security, and for laying the groundwork for Liberia’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).”
The statement recalled that the former President has supported and will always support any endeavor that seeks to advance the interests of the Liberian people and elevate our nation’s standing within the global community.
“It is his strong conviction that Liberia’s aspiration for a seat on the United Nations Security Council is a testament to our historical commitment to peace, both at home and abroad. Our country has consistently played a vital role in peacekeeping efforts and has stood as an emblem of resilience in the face of adversity. Additionally, Liberia has played historical roles as Africa’s first independent republic in the fight for the independence of many sisterly African nations. As a founding member of the United Nations and its predecessor, the League of Nations, Liberia has played pivotal roles in ushering and consolidating world peace and establishing global order.”