31/01/2026
“We Must Act Together or We Perish Together” President Boakai Urges Urgent West African Unity on Security
Choice TV LIVE Update News
Accra, Ghana | January 31, 2026
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. has issued a strong call for urgent regional unity and collective security among West African nations, warning that instability in one country poses a direct threat to the entire region.
Speaking on Friday, January 30, 2026, at the High-Level Consultative Conference on Regional Cooperation and Security in Accra, Ghana, President Boakai stressed that the evolving security challenges confronting West Africa require immediate, coordinated, and decisive action.
“None of us can be peaceful and stable if any of us is insecure and terrorized. Liberia is not safe if an inch of Ghana is in terror,” President Boakai declared, underscoring the interconnected nature of regional security.
The Liberian leader described recent developments in Niger as a “rude awakening and a crude reminder” of the persistent threats facing the sub-region, noting that the conference could not have come at a more critical time.
He expressed Liberia’s solidarity with the people of Niger and called for sustained regional engagement to address shared vulnerabilities.
President Boakai commended Ghanaian President H.E. John Dramani Mahama for convening the conference and for the warm hospitality extended to him and the Liberian delegation.
He reaffirmed Liberia’s full support for the initiative and its anticipated outcomes.
Reflecting on Liberia’s own history of conflict, President Boakai highlighted the devastating and long-lasting consequences of war, emphasizing that violent conflict knows no borders and leaves nations deeply scarred.
He reiterated Liberia’s firm commitment to conflict prevention at national, regional, and international levels.
The President outlined a wide range of security threats confronting the region, including terrorism, violent extremism, governance deficits, transnational crime, maritime insecurity, climate-driven conflicts, illicit mining, arms proliferation, human trafficking, cybercrime, drug abuse, and rising youth unemployment.
He warned that non-state actors continue to exploit lawlessness and weak institutions to undermine peace and stability.
President Boakai further cautioned that growing global polarization, economic disruptions, and political uncertainty are worsening insecurity and poverty, particularly in smaller and developing states. In this context, he emphasized the continued importance of multilateralism and regional solidarity.
As a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, President Boakai noted Liberia’s strong advocacy for regional approaches to peacebuilding and security, stressing that effective responses must involve neighboring states and regional institutions to dismantle cross-border networks that fuel conflict and terrorism.
He welcomed the outcome document produced by Intelligence Chiefs and Ministers responsible for Foreign Affairs and National Security, reaffirming Liberia’s readiness to collaborate with regional partners to implement its recommendations.
Addressing the socio-economic drivers of insecurity, President Boakai called for renewed activation of existing regional mechanisms to promote economic growth, youth employment, skills development, education, healthcare cooperation, and cultural exchange.
In closing, President Boakai emphasized the urgency of collective action and the need to invest in modern security architecture capable of responding to evolving technological threats.
“We are here because there is only one option: our collective survival and the survival of our people,” the President concluded.
Credit to Choice TV LIVE
