Monrovia, Liberia- Two Executives of the Opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) have credited former President George M. Weah for the election of Liberia on the U.N. Security Council.
Shortly after Liberia’s victory at the U.N non-permanent Security Council on Tuesday, two Executives of CDC asserted that the landmark achievement was the result of groundwork laid during former President George Manneh Weah’s administration, not the outcome of any recent efforts by the current government.
Former Monrovia Mayor and prominent CDC stalwart, Jefferson T. Koijee, pointed to President Weah’s 2023 State of the Nation Address, where the then-president detailed Liberia’s foreign policy roadmap and ongoing efforts to strengthen the country’s global partnerships.
“In that speech, His Excellency clearly mapped out a comprehensive diplomatic strategy that eventually won Liberia this UNSC seat,” Koijee stated. “This was no coincidence. It was a meticulously pursued agenda that matured within just two years under CDC leadership.”
Koijee criticized the current administration for allegedly spending $3.8 million in just two months on diplomatic lobbying for a seat that, according to him, had already been secured.
“It’s both wasteful and disingenuous,” he said. “You cannot buy what was already earned.”
Joining Koijee, CDC Executive and Montserrado County Former District #8 Representative Acarous Moses Gray described the achievement as a “testament to President Weah’s patriotism and statesmanship.”
“The greatest patriot, President George M. Weah, saw beyond political cycles,” Gray said. “He gave Liberia a foreign policy vision that bore fruit even after his administration ended. That is the hallmark of leadership.”
The Weah administration, which left office in early 2024, said they prioritized increased international engagement and regional cooperation.
Supporters argue that this approach laid the foundation for Liberia’s successful bid for the UNSC seat- only the second time the country has held such a position since 1961.
In contrast, critics of the CDC suggest the current government’s recent diplomatic blitz and substantial lobbying efforts were instrumental in clinching the final votes, particularly from undecided nations.
However, Koijee rejected those claims, calling them “revisionist and desperate.” He maintained, “The truth, like the North Star, doesn’t move. It shines, steady and unshaken.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to respond to the CDC’s statements.
Meanwhile, the broader Liberian public watches closely, celebrating the diplomatic milestone even as political parties spar over the narrative. Regardless of which administration ultimately receives credit, many agree that Liberia’s voice on the world stage has never been stronger.
