ACCRA, Ghana — President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has issued a strong call for deeper regional cooperation and collective security action, warning that West Africa faces an increasingly complex web of security and socio-economic threats that no single country can confront alone.
Speaking at the High-Level Consultative Conference on Regional Cooperation and Security in Accra, President Boakai described recent developments in Niger as a “rude awakening” that underscores the urgency of joint regional action. He urged conference participants to convey solidarity to the people of Niger, stressing that instability in one country poses risks to all.
The Liberian leader commended John Dramani Mahama for convening the meeting and for Ghana’s hospitality, reaffirming Liberia’s full support for the initiative. He noted that Liberia’s own painful experience with civil war has shaped its firm commitment to conflict prevention at national, regional, and international levels.
“Wars and violent conflicts once started have no end, no boundaries, and leave nations wrecked and development stalled,” President Boakai cautioned, drawing on Liberia’s history to emphasize the long-term costs of instability.
Mounting Regional Threats
President Boakai outlined a wide array of threats confronting the region, including terrorism, violent extremism, governance deficits, transnational crime, maritime insecurity, climate-driven resource conflicts, illicit mining, arms proliferation, human trafficking, illicit financial flows, drug abuse, unemployment, and social injustice. He also highlighted emerging security fault lines such as cybercrime, noting that increasingly porous borders and frequent cross-border travel demand stronger cooperation.
“Borders are increasingly becoming non-existent,” he said, adding that leaders must respond by embracing collective security and reinforcing regional solidarity.
The President warned that global polarization and declining international cooperation are compounding these challenges, particularly for smaller economies already struggling with poverty and unemployment. He expressed concern that these disruptions could further undermine economic stability and political cohesion across the sub-region.
Multilateralism and Liberia’s UN Role
Boakai reaffirmed Liberia’s belief in multilateral cooperation as the most effective way to address shared challenges. He pointed to Liberia’s current role as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, noting that a central priority of Liberia’s tenure is advocating for regional approaches to peacebuilding and security.
He argued that international responses should not focus solely on crisis epicenters, but also involve neighboring states and regional organizations to dismantle support networks and prevent the spillover of violence.
“This meeting clearly aligns with both our national security strategy and our foreign policy objectives,” Boakai said, emphasizing regional cooperation as a mechanism for mobilizing resources and coordinating collective action.
From Security to Development
Beyond military and intelligence cooperation, President Boakai stressed the need to address the socio-economic roots of insecurity. He called for renewed activation of existing regional mechanisms to promote economic growth, job creation, youth employment, and skills development. He also advocated for expanded cultural exchanges, technical cooperation in education and healthcare, and shared expertise to confront rising drug abuse across the region.
Commending intelligence chiefs and foreign and security ministers for their assessments and policy recommendations, Boakai pledged Liberia’s readiness to work with fellow heads of state to implement the conference’s outcomes.
A Call to Act Together
In a forceful conclusion, President Boakai framed regional cooperation as a matter of survival rather than choice. He reminded leaders that insecurity in one country endangers all others, warning that delay and disunity would only worsen the threats facing the region.
“We must act together, otherwise we perish together,” he said, urging immediate investment in modern security architecture to match rapid technological change.
The Accra conference, convened at a time of heightened uncertainty across West Africa, brought together heads of state, intelligence leaders, and senior officials to chart a coordinated response to shared security and development challenges—an agenda President Boakai says Liberia stands ready to advance.
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