Boakai Woos West African Leaders

By Jamesetta D Williams

President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. has called on West African leaders to urgently strengthen regional cooperation and collective security, warning that instability in one country poses a direct threat to peace across the sub-region.

Speaking On Friday At the High-Level Consultative Conference on Regional Cooperation and Security in Accra, President Boakai stressed that the region’s evolving security challenges demand immediate, coordinated, and decisive action.

“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,” President Boakai declared.

The Liberian leader described recent developments in Niger as a “rude awakening and a crude reminder” of the interconnected threats confronting West Africa.

He noted that the timing of the conference was critical and urged participants to express solidarity with the people of Niger as they navigate ongoing security challenges.

President Boakai expressed gratitude to Ghanaian President H.E. John Dramani Mahama for convening the conference and for the warm hospitality extended to the Liberian delegation.

He reaffirmed Liberia’s full support for the initiative and pledged the country’s commitment to implementing its outcomes.

Drawing from Liberia’s own history of civil conflict, President Boakai highlighted the devastating and long-lasting consequences of war, emphasizing that conflicts do not respect national borders and often leave deep scars across entire regions.

He reaffirmed Liberia’s strong commitment to conflict prevention at national, regional, and international levels.

The President outlined a wide range of threats undermining peace and stability in West Africa, including terrorism, violent extremism, governance deficits, transnational organized crime, maritime insecurity, climate-related conflicts, illicit mining, arms proliferation, human trafficking, cybercrime, drug abuse, and widespread youth unemployment. He warned that non-state actors continue to exploit anarchy and weak governance to destabilize states.

President Boakai further cautioned that rising global polarization, economic disruptions, and political uncertainty are exacerbating insecurity and poverty, particularly in smaller and developing countries.

In this context, he underscored the importance of multilateralism and sustained regional solidarity.

As a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, President Boakai highlighted Liberia’s advocacy for regional approaches to peacebuilding and security, stressing that effective solutions must involve neighboring states and regional institutions working together to dismantle cross-border criminal and terrorist networks.

He welcomed the outcome document produced by intelligence chiefs and ministers responsible for foreign affairs and national security, and reaffirmed Liberia’s readiness to collaborate with regional partners to implement its recommendations.

Addressing the socio-economic drivers of insecurity, President Boakai called for the revitalization of existing regional mechanisms to promote economic growth, create jobs for young people, expand skills training, strengthen education and healthcare cooperation, and encourage cultural exchange across borders.

In closing, President Boakai emphasized the urgency of collective action and the need to invest in modern security architecture that matches advances in technology and emerging threats.

We are here because there is only one option: our collective survival and the survival of our people,” he said.