In a swift response to an aviation incident at Liberia’s Roberts International Airport (RIA), the Republic of Türkiye has deployed an emergency accident response team to the country, fulfilling a commitment made by Turkish President H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
It can be recalled, the flight bringing president Joseph Boakai from his ECOWAS’ visit to Lagos nearly crashed at the Roberts International Airport leaving Liberians home and abroad in fear.
The Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure confirmed the team’s arrival in Monrovia, led by Mr. Altan Yasar Tekin, to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident that occurred on May 29, 2025, at RIA. While details of the incident remain under review, the deployment underscores Türkiye’s growing engagement in Liberia’s infrastructure development and bilateral cooperation.
“This immediate intervention highlights Türkiye’s commitment to supporting our partners in times of need, as well as our shared vision for safe and modern aviation facilities,” said Türkiye’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, H.E. Abdulkadir Uraloğlu.
The emergency response precedes the arrival of a high-level Turkish technical delegation, scheduled for a working visit to Liberia from June 10 to 13, 2025. The seven-member team will assess RIA’s operational readiness and identify priority areas for improvement.
The delegation comprises:
a. Mr. Levent Şenel, Deputy Head of Mission, Turkish Embassy in Accra
b. Mr. Süleyman Yılmaz, Civil Engineer
c. Mr. Bilal Özçelik, Civil Engineer
d. Mr. Alper Uzun, Air Traffic Controller
e. Mr. Mert Kayış, Electrical Engineer
f. Mr. Yavuz Boyuneğmez, Map Technician
g. Mr. Sefa Kartal, Engineer
The visit follows diplomatic discussions in April 2025, during which Liberia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, relayed President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s interest in establishing a government-to-government (G2G) partnership to modernize Liberia’s primary international airport.
In response, President Erdoğan pledged Türkiye’s technical and financial support for the RIA upgrade, aligning with Liberia’s national infrastructure and economic development goals.
“This is the beginning of a strategic partnership,” Minister Uraloğlu noted. “Our experts will evaluate the existing conditions and lay the groundwork for long-term cooperation that strengthens aviation safety and efficiency in Liberia.”
The initiative forms part of Liberia’s broader economic diplomacy agenda, spearheaded by Minister Nyanti, aimed at attracting foreign direct investment, creating employment, and improving critical infrastructure.
Türkiye’s involvement signals a deepening of ties between the two nations and a shared commitment to enhancing regional connectivity and development.
