MONROVIA, LIBERIA-President Joseph Boakai says Liberia will remain an active and committed partner in advancing the African Union’s agenda for a prosperous and united Africa.

President Boakai also expressed gratitude to the continental body for its endorsement of Liberia’s candidacy for one of Africa’s Non-Permanent Seat on the UN Security Council for 2026-2027.

According to the President, Liberia seeks the AU’s continued support that will allow the country to serve the continent and be a voice of change, particularly on issues of peace, security, women, youth, and development.

President Boakai also expressed Liberia’s desire to work along with the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is vying for the other seat on the UN Security Council in undertaking continent-wide initiatives, such as addressing the link between resources and conflict in Africa.

Delivering a special statement at the opening of the AU 38^th Ordinary Summit of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Ethiopia, the Liberian Leader used the occasion to showcase Liberia’s development plan, the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.

The Liberian Leader said:” The five-year development plan aims at modernizing Liberia’s infrastructure, fostering good governance, revitalizing the country’s economy, and empowering citizens, with a focus on women and youth.”

At the same time, President Joseph Boakai has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to deepening Liberia’s participation in multilateral trade and ensuring that trade policies align with national development priorities.

President Boakai said:” Liberia’s active role in regional and global economic dialogues is to prioritize economic transformation and sustainable development.”

The Liberian Leader committed on Saturday, February 15, 2025, when he held a high-level discussion with the Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on the sidelines of the 38^th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

According to an Executive Mansion release, the meeting focused on strengthening Liberia’s integration into the global trading system, enhancing trade facilitation, and leveraging WTO’s mechanisms to support Liberia’s economic diversification agenda.

During the discussions, President Boakai emphasized the need for increased technical assistance and capacity-building programs to empower Liberian businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to compete in international markets.

He also underscores Liberia’s interest in exploring trade-related initiatives that foster sustainable economic growth, job creation, and industrialization.