Liberia Amplifies UN Security Council Ambition, Reaffirms Global Peace Commitments in Europe

Strasbourg/Liberia: In a move that consolidates Liberia’s diplomatic momentum on the global platform, Ambassador Dr. Teeko Tozay Yorlay, representing Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti, has reaffirmed Liberia’s unyielding commitment to peace, democracy, human rights, and sustainable development at the 34th Executive Committee Meeting of the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.

By: Abraham Sylvester Panto

Ambassador Yorlay also reiterated Liberia’s active campaign for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, with the crucial election set for June 3, 2025.

Addressing the forum with measured authority, Ambassador Yorlay conveyed Liberia’s evolving identity from a war-ravaged nation to an emerging voice of moral authority on global governance.

The transformation is underpinned by recent domestic actions, including the issuance of Executive Order 131 by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, establishing the legal framework for the establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court to confront Liberia’s past with transparent accountability.

Citing the country's post-conflict transformation since the cessation of civil war in 2003, the Ambassador referenced Liberia’s sustained peace and democratic elections. He highlighted international engagements as deliberate hallmarks of progress, positioning the country not only as a beneficiary of peace-building efforts but now as a strategic contributor to multilateral peace diplomacy.

He framed Liberia’s endorsement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as a cornerstone of its foreign policy.

Ambassador Yorlay called on the Global North and South to strengthen cooperation on equitable resource sharing and development financing while emphasizing that genuine multilateral engagement requires addressing the root causes of inequality and underdevelopment.

Liberia’s support for the North-South Centre’s mandate, according to the Ambassador, is not symbolic but substantive, as it represents a continuation of Liberia’s commitment to balanced multilateralism, inclusivity, and intercultural dialogue.

Liberia’s candidacy for the United Nations Security Council reflects a deep-seated belief that smaller nations can offer credible leadership in deliberations on global peace and security. Liberia draws from its history of conflict recovery to advocate for responsible multilateralism.

Ambassador Yorlay emphasized that Liberia’s campaign for the Council seat would be anchored in transparency, justice, and mutual respect. These pillars, he noted, emerge from the nation’s turbulent past and its determination to prevent recurrence both domestically and globally.

He credited the Boakai administration for initiating a paradigm shift in national governance, adding that Liberia’s foreign policy is driven by pragmatic multilateralism.

During his address, Ambassador Yorlay also called for increased investment in youth empowerment, education, and digital infrastructure in developing countries. He emphasized that demographic dividends require equipping young people with tools and platforms to contribute meaningfully to innovation and democratic discourse.

He lauded the North-South Centre as a unique multilateral platform that promotes the universality of human rights and democratic values. At the same time, he acknowledged the geopolitical asymmetries that hinder effective cooperation across the Global South.

Liberia’s candidacy for the Security Council, he maintained, is not premised on political expediency; instead, he said it is rooted in a tested belief in the transformative potential of inclusive diplomacy.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Yorlay expressed appreciation to the Council of Europe and its partners for creating platforms where smaller states can amplify their perspectives. He underscored that equitable representation remains central to the credibility and legitimacy of international decision-making bodies.