Published: October 29, 2025
A few months ago, in an inspiring turn of global events, Liberia, the small West African nation that had been the “troubled child” of the world for most of the 90s, rebranded itself in a major diplomatic milestone when it pulled off being voted as one of two representatives of Africa on the United Nations Security Council. The vote earned post-conflict Liberia a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). This is not just a diplomatic victory; it is a defining moment in our nation’s post-war journey toward peace, credibility, and global relevance.
For a country that, just two decades ago, was ravaged by conflict and isolation, our election to the UNSC was a statement to the world: “Liberia is back on the table of serious global conversations.” Not just that the country recalibrates from being cared for to a continental representative, carrying the burden of watching and speaking out for Africa. From the impacts of armed conflict, global trade wars, governance failures, famine, disease, and crippling infrastructure, an African representative carries much more burden than even the permanent members of the Council. Therefore, the question stands: What’s next?
First, Liberia has to begin with itself. Its election is a powerful endorsement of the nation’s evolution. It signals trust in our governance systems and affirms our commitment to multilateral cooperation. Under the ARREST agenda, Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism, Liberia is constructing a new path. The UNSC seat gives us a global microphone to echo that vision and shape the world’s understanding of who we are becoming.
Therefore, diplomacy must rise to the moment. This is not the time for business as usual. Our foreign service must be equipped and empowered to match the weight of this global stage. It starts with deploying the right people, that is, well-trained diplomats and seasoned policy experts at the world’s center— to key missions in Paris, Brussels, Washington D.C., New York, London, Beijing, Geneva, Dakar, Johannesburg, and beyond.
Excellence in Foreign Service is not optional but essential. The nation needs individuals who understand the nuances of global policy and can defend national interests with grace, skill, and strategy.
Every move Liberia makes or votes cast at the Council must be deliberate; Every speech must reflect depth. Liberia’s interventions at the UN must be defined by our national development objectives. It must be in support of Africa’s economic independence, prosperity, and peace. Every stance must be tied to our national priorities, whether short-term developmental needs or long-term diplomatic positioning. Our interventions must be calibrated within the broader vision of the ARREST agenda and African self-determination. Our position must be evidence-based and data-driven. That means, Liberia should work in close consultation with think tanks and policy institutions that can guide our decisions with data and discernment.
To make the most of our UNSC tenure, Liberia must operate with intellectual precision and policy foresight. That begins with supporting the work of national and regional think tanks and technical committees dedicated to key global themes, that is, peace and security, counterterrorism, humanitarian affairs, women’s rights, climate diplomacy, diplomatic practices and sanctions, geopolitical strategies, and international law.
This support and collaboration must not be ceremonial; they should serve as meaningful strategic hubs for decision-making and implementation, equipping our diplomats with up-to-date data, contextual analysis, and actionable recommendations. Liberia’s voice at the UNSC must be backed by research, coherence, and conviction. Liberia must expand its regional and global consultation with leaders and technocrats to deepen our understanding of both the problems and the solutions, so that we best represent their views.
We must also seize this moment to rewrite the narrative of Liberia. The UNSC seat gives us credibility; now we must prove we’ve earned it. This is the moment to repair Liberia’s global image, which has long been shadowed by past instability, poor governance, and lost opportunities. The UNSC seat gives us a fresh start, but only if we take control of the narrative.
Our representation must reflect discipline, credibility, and national pride. Our communications must be consistent, confident, and focused. We must showcase Liberia not as a fragile state, but as a nation redefined — serious, sovereign, and stable.
That begins with upholding the rule of law at home, eliminating corruption, and showing that Liberia is a partner worth investing in. Our victory signals to the international community that Liberia has made tangible strides in governance, stability, and post-war development. It is also a call to strengthen our institutions, redefine our diplomacy, and project a new image of Liberia to the world, one that reflects reform, resilience, and responsible leadership.
Liberia has a powerful diplomatic heritage as Africa’s first republic and a founding member of the United Nations. Our geostrategic location, abundant mineral wealth, rich human capital, and historic contributions to global diplomacy can no longer remain dormant assets. It’s time to craft a national soft power strategy that elevates Liberia’s identity as a bridge-builder, peace promoter, and partner of choice in West Africa and beyond.
Nevertheless, with all being said, no diplomatic effort will be sustainable without solid infrastructure at home, something I call, “Build the home front to match the global stage”. That means ensuring Roberts International Airport, the National Port Authority, immigration services, the police, the Drug Enforcement Agency, and our courts operate to international standards. We can no longer have issues about electricity somewhere as important as the airport, which is the first place of “welcome” for investors. These are not merely domestic institutions; they are the front doors of our global identity.
We also need well-designed investment packages that offer attractive incentives for both local and foreign investors. Liberia must be easy to enter, easy to navigate, and worth staying in.
To the world’s investors and development partners, we must send a firm message: Liberia is ready for business, but not the business of old. No more bureaucracy without productivity, and no more deals without accountability. Liberia should take the UNSC seat with values of transparency, efficiency, and partnership.
Confidence must be restored, not just through speeches, but through systems that work.
To turn diplomatic prestige into economic gain, Liberia should develop and promote investor-ready packages in key sectors like energy, agriculture, tourism, and infrastructure. These packages must include: Clear legal frameworks, Tax and customs incentives, Land access clarity, and Public-private partnership models
Our pitch to the world must be: Liberia is not just a country of potential, but it is also a country of prepared opportunity.
Liberia’s seat on the UNSC is not a trophy; it’s a test. A test of our readiness. A test of our unity. A test of whether we will rise above politics, sentiments, tribes, and personal interests to truly serve our nation’s future.
The world is watching. Let us show them the Liberia we believe in.
Bio: Yongbladeh Praise Zeon is a bilingual communications and diplomacy professional serving as Executive Secretary and Interpreter at the Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Institute in Liberia. She holds a degree in Public Relations from UCAO–UUA in Abidjan and is pursuing postgraduate studies in Diplomacy in Morocco, with a focus on Geopolitics and Intercultural relations. Fluent in English and French, Zeon bridges linguistic and cultural divides to promote effective diplomacy and international collaboration. She represents a new generation of Liberian leaders dedicated to excellence, purpose, and global engagement.
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