FREETOWN, Sierra Leone — Liberia’s First Lady, Kartumu Yarta Boakai, has issued a powerful call for African governments and development partners to place women and girls at the center of climate resilience, peacebuilding, and development, warning that resilience delayed for women is “resilience denied.”
Speaking at a high-level meeting of the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) in Freetown on Friday, December 12, 2025, Madam Boakai pledged Liberia’s full support for OAFLAD’s 2025–2027 campaign themed “Building Resilience for Women and Girls in the Face of Climate Change and Conflict.”
“This campaign is not just a policy framework,” the Liberian First Lady said. “It is a movement — a moral awakening.”
The meeting was hosted by Sierra Leone’s First Lady and OAFLAD President, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, and attended by President Julius Maada Bio, cabinet ministers, development partners, UN officials, and women’s rights advocates from across Africa.
Liberia, Sierra Leone Share a Common History
Madam Boakai drew strong historical and emotional parallels between Liberia and Sierra Leone, describing the two countries as “twins in Africa’s historical struggle for freedom” and united by resilience forged through conflict and recovery.
“From the ashes of conflict to the front lines of climate adaptation, our nations have walked side by side,” she said. “Today we stand shoulder to shoulder once more, lifting the daughters of Africa so they may never again be left behind.”
She conveyed greetings from President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr., noting their shared belief in peace, partnership, and regional solidarity.
Praise for OAFLAD Leadership
In remarks that drew applause, the Liberian First Lady praised Dr. Fatima Maada Bio’s leadership of OAFLAD, describing her as a leader who brings “both grace and fire.”
“Some of us bring wisdom, some bring fire — and when we come together, we are unstoppable,” Madam Boakai said, invoking a Liberian proverb: “One stick can be broken, but the bundle is strong.”
She acknowledged the limited statutory resources available to many First Ladies but stressed that moral authority and collective action remain powerful tools.
Climate Change, Conflict, and Women’s Burden
Turning to the substance of the OAFLAD campaign, Madam Boakai warned that climate change and conflict are colliding with devastating consequences for women and girls across Africa.
“This is not theoretical,” she said. “It is disrupting maternal and reproductive health, escalating gender-based violence, displacing families, and shrinking women’s economic dreams.”
Citing the African Climate Security Risk Assessment 2024, she noted that women and girls bear the heaviest burdens during climate and conflict crises, yet are also the first to rebuild communities.
“They are the first to fetch scarce water, the first to leave school, and the first to suffer when systems collapse,” she said. “Yet they are also the first to rebuild, the first to heal, and the first to lead.”
“Resilience Must Become a Right”
In one of her strongest declarations, Madam Boakai asserted that resilience should no longer be treated as a privilege.
“Resilience must become a right, not a privilege,” she said, calling on African leaders to embed women-centered resilience into national policies and budgets.
She reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to fully align with OAFLAD’s agenda, noting Liberia’s own experience with war and climate shocks.
“Our women are not victims,” she said. “They are survivors. They are not broken — they are builders.”
Investing in Women Is Strategic
Madam Boakai emphasized that empowering women is not charity but a strategic investment in Africa’s future.
“A woman’s strength is Africa’s strength,” she declared. “If you want to secure Africa’s future, secure its women.”
She called for bold investments in climate justice, youth empowerment, education, health, and protection for women and girls, stressing that solutions must reach communities beyond capital cities.
Call to Action
In closing, the Liberian First Lady urged OAFLAD members to transform advocacy into concrete action.
“Turn promises into policies. Policies into power,” she said. “Africa cannot afford to wait.”
Quoting an African proverb, Madam Boakai concluded: “When the roots are deep, there is no reason to fear the wind.”
“The women and girls of Africa are those roots,” she said. “If we nourish them, they will withstand every storm.”
