MONROVIA, Liberia — A high-level delegation from the Saudi Fund for Development met on Monday, February 9, 2026, with Liberia’s Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan to chart the next phase of an ambitious infrastructure agenda. The open meeting, attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Finance, showcased a deepening collaboration between Liberia and Saudi Arabia’s development partners as the country advances major road and power projects.
Ngafuan opened with a warm welcome for the Saudi delegation, highlighting Liberia’s long-standing partnership with Arab funders. He pointed to the RIA runway extension as a key achievement funded by the Saudi Fund, and emphasized that Saudi support remains central to Liberia’s flagship Gbarnga-Mandikorma highway project, which began in 2017 as part of a broader corridor linking Liberia’s interior to regional markets. The minister noted that Liberia now benefits from a “consortium of Arab funders” that includes Kuwait, the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), and other supporters, all mobilizing to finance different legs of the same corridor.
The discussion zeroed in on specific road segments. Delegates outlined funding commitments for the Salayea-Konia leg already supported by Kuwait in December 2025, and ongoing arrangements with OFID to finalize funding for the same stretch. The Saudi delegation signaled readiness to advance the Konia-to-Voinjama leg, a crucial link that would complete the broader Mendikorma corridor. Officials stressed that once these segments secure financing, the entire Salayea-to-Mendikorma route would be fully funded, dramatically improving trade corridors, agricultural supply chains, and cross-border movement to Guinea.
Ngafuan reminded attendees that the corridor runs through strategic towns such as Zorzor and Voinjama, and culminates near Yeala, where a major customs post could unlock new revenue streams and reduce travel time for farmers and traders alike. He described the road as a “breadbasket” project for Lofa and neighboring counties, underscoring how quicker transport translates into higher incomes and lower costs for Liberian households.
Beyond roads, the delegation touched on a parallel energy initiative. The Liberian government and Saudi partners discussed a comprehensive electricity program valued at roughly $185–$190 million, including two substations and transmission lines that would enhance grid reliability. The Saudis indicated a willingness to financing certain elements at full value, without waiting for other sources, signaling a phased but decisive approach to energy security.
The meeting closed with mutual expressions of commitment to “baking the bread” — delivering tangible, visible results that will finally bring Liberian products to broader markets and improve public services. As the dialogue continues, observers will watch for formal memoranda and announced funding schedules that could soon turn these discussions into on-the-ground progress across Liberia’s transport and power sectors.
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