NAIROBI, Kenya – Joseph Nyuma Boakai on Sunday held a series of high-level bilateral meetings in Nairobi with William Samoei Ruto and Alassane Ouattara, focusing on regional peace and security, African governance, economic cooperation, and sustainable development across the continent.
According to an Executive Mansion release, President Boakai’s discussions with President Ruto centered on strengthening cooperation in key sectors, including energy infrastructure, tourism, education, technology, and youth empowerment.
President Ruto thanked the Liberian leader for honoring the invitation and stressed that the engagement aimed to deepen collaboration among African leaders while creating opportunities to exchange ideas on positioning Africa for sustainable growth and empowering the continent’s youth.
The Kenyan leader also highlighted the significance of the upcoming G7 Summit, expected to take place in June or July, describing it as an important platform for discussions on global governance, concessional financing, reforms to the United Nations Security Council, and restructuring the global financial system.
President Ruto further noted that the summit would allow African leaders to engage the international community on major global priorities, including climate change, climate financing, artificial intelligence, information and communication technology, and resource mobilization to tackle these pressing challenges.
In response, President Boakai emphasized the importance of African solidarity amid evolving global challenges, stating that African nations must work collectively to harness the continent’s vast human and natural resources for the benefit of its people.
“Africa possesses the human capacity and natural resources necessary to drive its own development and economic transformation,” President Boakai said.
In a separate bilateral engagement, President Boakai and President Ouattara discussed strengthening peace, security, and cooperation within the Mano River Union (MRU) subregion.
President Boakai briefed President Ouattara on the situation at the Sorlumba border crossing point and broader developments affecting border stability in the region.
Both leaders expressed concern over the impact of ongoing border-related crises on regional integration efforts and development initiatives involving Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone.
The two presidents agreed on the urgent need to intensify diplomatic engagements aimed at restoring stability and resolving the crises affecting the subregion. They also underscored the importance of convening a regional summit to address challenges undermining cross-border cooperation and development.
The leaders acknowledged that several strategic regional projects within the MRU framework have stalled because of instability along the borders, highlighting the need for coordinated regional action to revive economic cooperation and development initiatives.
President Ouattara proposed a ministerial-level meeting ahead of the planned regional summit to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the border crises and recommend practical solutions for lasting peace and stability.
The discussions also addressed the growing threat of terrorism and instability across the subregion and their negative impact on economic growth, governance, and regional security. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to working closely with regional and international partners to preserve peace, democratic governance, and stability across West Africa.
President Boakai additionally updated President Ouattara on Liberia’s democratic progress, highlighting recent gains in governance, democratic consolidation, and national development.
The meetings reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to strengthening bilateral and regional partnerships, advancing peace and security, and promoting African-led solutions to continental and global challenges.
