In a stirring keynote address at the 2nd Lomé Peace and Security Forum, Liberian President Joseph Nyuma Boakai called on African nations to take charge of their own security futures through justice, reconciliation, and grassroots-driven peacebuilding.
Addressing a high-level audience of African heads of state, diplomats, and security experts, President Boakai drew from Liberia’s turbulent history to deliver a powerful message of hope, accountability, and regional solidarity.
“Liberia stands today as living proof that peace is possible when a nation chooses dialogue over division and forgiveness over vengeance,” president Boakai said. “Our experience shows that the road to peace begins with justice, inclusion, and local ownership.”
The 80-Liberian leader, reflecting on his decades as a witness to Liberia’s upheavals and recovery, recounted key moments from the country’s path from military coup and civil war to democratic governance. He highlighted recent national efforts to confront the past and promote healing, including:
A formal state apology to victims of Liberia’s civil wars;
The symbolic reburial of former Presidents William R. Tolbert and Samuel K. Doe, along with members of Tolbert’s cabinet;
Ongoing progress toward establishing a War and Economic Crimes Court;
Plans to memorialize conflict victims, including fallen ECOWAS peacekeepers.
“Accountability strengthens peace, not weakens it,” Boakai affirmed. “We must end national amnesia and ensure that future generations remember the cost of violence and the value of peace.”
The Liberian president also voiced concern over a range of security challenges plaguing the continent ~ from violent extremism and unconstitutional power grabs to economic marginalization and climate-related displacement. He emphasized that these crises demand coordinated, African-led responses.
Institutions such as the African Union and ECOWAS, Boakai noted, have a critical role to play in mediating conflicts and promoting stability. But he urged that peace efforts must be rooted in communities, owned by citizens, and sustained through strong, transparent governance.
A particularly moving part of his speech addressed the perilous journeys of African youth seeking better lives abroad.
“Our youth, many of whom are victims of war, should be rebuilding their nations, not dying in deserts or drowning at sea,” he lamented. “Investing in their education, innovation, and inclusion is not charity ~ it is a peacebuilding strategy.”
Boakai identified corruption, exclusion, and weak institutions as underlying drivers of instability, and cited reforms under his administration aimed at improving governance, transparency, and economic opportunity.
Echoing the African proverb, “When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion,” he called for greater continental unity and the strengthening of early-warning systems to detect and prevent emerging conflicts.
“The peace we seek must be homegrown, created by Africans, owned by Africans, and sustained by Africans,” Boakai asserted.
He concluded by reaffirming Liberia’s commitment to global peacebuilding as the country prepares to resume its seat on the United Nations Security Council.
“Peace is not a destination; it is a journey,” he said. “May the experience of Liberia remind the world that Africa’s peace is the world’s peace.”
Now in its second year, the Lomé Peace and Security Forum has emerged as a vital pan-African platform for dialogue on security, governance, and conflict resolution. The forum convenes leaders from across the continent, alongside representatives from civil society, academia, and international institutions, to chart collaborative responses to Africa’s most pressing peace and stability challenges.
