Monrovia – United States Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas Greenfield has extolled Liberians for its active participation in peacekeeping missions across the continent.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]
Amb Greenfield termed the feat as extraordinary and said it is a testament to the resilience of Liberians judging from Liberia’s troubled past- 14 years of brutal civil war that claimed the lives of an estimated 250,000 people and displaced thousands more.
“This is one of those full-circle moments for me. I visited Liberia in 2005, near the height of the UN peacekeeping mission following the civil war. To come back not even two decades later and see Liberians contributing troops – it’s a testament to the resilience and the dedication of the Liberian people,” she said in a press briefing following her trip to Liberian and several West African countries.
Pledging U.S. ‘Ironclad commitment’
Amb. Greenfield served as United States Ambassador to Liberia from 2008 to 2012. As ambassador, she oversaw the U.S. support to Liberia’s various sectors – health, education, civil society, and the Armed Forces of Liberia. Last week, she led the U.S. delegation here to the inauguration of President Joseph Boakai and Vice President Jeremiah Koung which marked the successful second peaceful, democratic transition of power since the end of the civil war in 2003.
While in Liberia, she met former President George Weah and commended him on his commitment to the peaceful transfer of power, and the new President Boakai where they discussed the importance of combating corruption, promoting accountability, and remaining a pillar of democracy in a “region roiled by threats to it.”
She delivered the keynote address at the inaugural ball hosted by the Liberia Chamber of Commerce and the Liberia Business Association, where she rallied the Liberian business community to hold the government accountable to boost trade, foreign investment. She noted that democracy is a tie that binds the two nations together, and that “both in America and in Liberia, democracy is an unfinished project – a choice we all must make not just on election day or inauguration day, but every single day.”
She also visited the historic Providence Baptist Church, where Liberia’s declaration of independence was signed in 1847, something Amb. Greenfield continues to be a symbol of liberty and hope for Liberia and met with students at the Linda Thomas Greenfield Preparatory School in Monrovia.
Speaking about her trip to Liberia and the region in her first press briefing upon her return to the United States, Amb. Greenfield said she was honored to lead President Biden’s delegation for ‘this remarkable celebration of democracy’ as the former U.S. ambassador to Liberia. She praised Liberia for its tremendous stride to peace and reaffirmed the U.S. support to the country.
“The United States is committed to Liberia. We have – we’re a country that has close historical ties that go back to Liberia’s creation, and we have been a close ally and partner to Liberia throughout. Liberia has been very supportive and worked closely with us here at the United Nations, and we’re committed to helping President Boakai succeed,” she said.
Continuing, she said: “As you know, I served as ambassador in Liberia for four years during the Sirleaf administration, and we committed millions of U.S. dollars to supporting Liberia’s development. We will continue to do that. Since 2017, we’ve given them close to $800 million; we’ve worked to build their military. So, our commitment to Liberia is ironclad.”
Amb. Greenfield’s visit to West Africa took place amidst a backdrop of democratic backsliding in the region. Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, led by a military junta, announced they are leaving the regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
She also visited Sierra Leone, and Guinea Bissau where she met with heads of government, opposition leaders and members of the civil society and the youths.