11/10/2025
Address by
His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr.
President of the Republic of Liberia
At the Lomé Peace and Security Forum - 2nd Edition
Lome, Republic of Togo
October 11, 2025
My Friend and Brother, President Faure Gnassingbe;
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo;
Other Counterpart African Leaders;
Your Excellencies; Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen:
I bring you warm greetings from the people of the Republic of Liberia, a nation that has traveled a long and difficult path from conflict to peace, from despair to hope, and from destruction to renewal.
It is a pleasure to return to Lomé, this time to participate in the Second Edition of the Lomé Peace and Security Forum.
This important gathering is not only a platform for addressing the complex challenges facing our world but it also reaffirms Lomé’s historic role in mediating peace in our region and strengthening African solidarity.
I vividly recall how warring factions from Liberia and Sierra Leone once found safe haven here, engaging in dialogue that resulted in the historic Lomé Peace Accords for both nations. The importance of those accords lies in their creation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Special Court, two institutions that brought justice and healing. Lomé has therefore earned a legacy that commands respect and gratitude.
It was in this spirit that I gladly accepted the invitation from my Brother, His Excellency Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, to come and share a few reflections with you.
A Witness to History
At the age of eighty, I stand before you as a witness to history and a student of its lessons. I have experienced the painful tremors that led to Liberia’s 1980 coup, the dark years of civil conflict, and the long, arduous journey toward reconciliation and renewal.
I have seen the devastating consequences of instability and the extraordinary resilience of our people.
The 2003 Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement, born of regional cooperation and relentless diplomacy, paved the way for peace and established institutions like the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which sought to heal the deep wounds of our nation.
It is within this context that I find the theme of this year’s forum, “Africa Facing Complex Security Challenges: How to Build and Consolidate Peace and Stability in a Changing World,” both timely and critical.
Liberia’s Journey of Peace
Liberia understands too well the cost of conflict. For over a decade, our civil wars tore apart our social fabric, displaced thousands, and destroyed our institutions. Yet, we also stand today as living proof that peace is possible when a nation chooses dialogue over division and forgiveness over vengeance.
Our path to peace has been rooted in national ownership, reconciliation, community empowerment, and sustained partnerships.
To confront our painful past, Liberia established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. As President, I have sought to implement its recommendations because there can be no lasting peace without justice and reconciliation.
That is why I issued a formal apology to the victims of Liberia’s civil wars, a moment of national reflection and moral renewal. It was essential for the state to acknowledge its role in the conflict and to restore dignity to those who suffered.
This was followed by the symbolic reburial of former Presidents William Tolbert and Samuel Doe, as well as thirteen members of Tolbert’s cabinet, decades after their tragic executions. This act was not about politics but about truth, reconciliation, and dignity.
Today, my Administration is working toward establishing a War and Economic Crimes Court, an important step to ensure accountability for the atrocities and economic crimes of our past. We believe that accountability strengthens peace, not weakens it.
To prevent repetition and promote remembrance, we are also addressing national amnesia by memorializing the victims of the conflict, including West African peacekeepers who lost their lives in the line of duty. We continue to honor ECOWAS for its selfless role in restoring peace to Liberia.
Peace from the Grassroots
Liberia’s peace has lasted for over two decades because it is owned by the people. Chiefs, women groups, youth organizations, and civil society became the backbone of post-war recovery. They mediated disputes, rebuilt communities, and restored trust where the state was absent.
They demonstrated that peace can start from the grassroots through persistence and moral strength. We have learned that rebuilding roads and buildings means little if we neglect to heal the human spirit. Reconciliation requires honesty, empathy, and forgiveness.
Peace is not just the silence of guns; it is the presence of justice, opportunity, and hope.
Strengthening Institutions
Weak institutions breed instability. Liberia has therefore prioritized good governance, the rule of law, and human rights.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission revealed how corruption, exclusion, and institutional failure became root causes of our conflict.
To address these systemic issues, my Government is implementing reforms to promote responsive governance, accountability, and equitable development. We believe that institutional reform and economic renewal must go hand in hand to correct past injustices and secure a better future for all Liberians.
Africa at a Crossroads
Your Excellencies, we gather here at a defining moment for our continent. Across Africa, from the Sahel to the Horn, from the Great Lakes to the Mano River Basin, peace and stability are being tested by old and new challenges. Coups, violent extremism, and resource based conflicts continue to threaten our collective security.
At the same time, misinformation, climate change, and economic inequality are deepening fragility. But Africa must never be defined by crisis; we must be defined by courage. We have the wisdom, resilience, and creativity to shape our own destiny.
As an African proverb teaches us, “When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion.” This reminds us that our strength lies in unity and collective effort.
The peace we seek must therefore be homegrown, created by Africans, owned by Africans, and sustained by Africans. Liberia’s experience helped define an African approach to peacebuilding, one that focuses not only on peacekeeping but also on conflict prevention and regional cooperation.
Shared Security and Regional Solidarity
With the support of ECOWAS, the African Union, and the United Nations, Liberia reformed its security institutions and strengthened its democracy. Our peace is intertwined with that of our neighbors.
Through the Mano River Union, we continue to deepen cooperation with Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire to ensure that our borders become bridges of opportunity rather than barriers of suspicion.
We are revitalizing early warning systems, promoting cross border trade, and encouraging dialogue to prevent the spread of instability. Peace in West Africa must be collective, for no nation can be secure while its neighbor is in turmoil.
The Path Forward
To sustain peace and security, Africa must address its fractures and sources of fragility.
First, we must invest in inclusive political processes grounded in democratic norms and institutional integrity. Legitimate and participatory governance builds trust and reduces the risk of conflict.
Second, access to justice must be universal. Justice is a right, not a privilege, and it is central to peace and stability.
Third, human security must be prioritized. True security is not only about the absence of war but also protection from poverty, disease, and environmental degradation.
Fourth, promote economic inclusion, especially for youth and women. Improving the economy by creating the right conditions for growth will foster sustainable livelihoods, expand access to essential services, and reduce the risk of long-lasting social conflicts.
The illegal migration of our youth across deserts and oceans to Europe and America, through dangerous terrain, in search of better opportunities, and the influence of war entrepreneurs has become one of the most troubling and persistent images reflecting our conflict and socio-economic struggles.
Our youth, many of whom are victims of war, should be rebuilding their nation. Investing in their welfare, including education, innovation, and inclusion, should not be seen as charity — it must be a peace-building strategy. Through economic inclusion, the state can build resilience, strengthen the social contract between the government and its citizens, and improve state-society relations.
Fourth, we must promote economic inclusion, especially for women and youth. Investing in education, innovation, and livelihoods is not charity; it is a peacebuilding strategy.
Finally, regional and continental institutions such as ECOWAS, the African Union, and the Mano River Union must be empowered to lead in early warning and preventive diplomacy.
Conclusion
Excellencies, peace must be both a continental priority and a global partnership rooted in fairness and respect for Africa’s agency.
As Liberia returns to the United Nations Security Council, we do so as a humble messenger of Africa’s experience, that peace, though fragile, is possible when anchored in justice and inclusion.
The lesson from Liberia is simple yet profound: peace is not a destination; it is a journey, one that every generation must walk with renewed commitment.
May the experience of Liberia remind the world that Africa’s peace is the world’s peace. May peace reign across our continent and our world.
Thank you. ‎
