—As Condemnation of China, Support of Ukraine, Israel Remains Contestable
IPNEWS: Earlier this week, Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti asked former President George Weah to do a minute-long video message endorsing Liberia’s bid and to join in the launch.
This move observer termed a major step toward blossoming reconciliation and promoting unity following Liberia’s heated 2023 elections that would allow former President George Manneh Weah, and other permanent Liberians including former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf join hands in finding leads and advocating for Liberia’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Prior to this move by the government of Liberia, former President Goerge M. Weah, who had complained of continued harassment and disregard posture of the Joseph N. Boakai’s government since its inception towards him and his Congress for Democratic Change (CDC).
Weah has protested repeated refusal of the government to allow him used the VIP Terminal at the Roberts International Airport on numerous occasions, and the purported envision by State security in August of his Party’s premises over an alleged pursuit of Drug dealer.
In reaction to the government of Liberia’s request for his assistance in a bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2026 and 2027, Weah’s office responded Thursday saying that while the former President has always supported Liberia’s aspiration for a UN Security Council seat, the country’s domestic policies must reflect the values it seeks to promote globally.
Eugene Nagbe, chief of staff of Weah’s office and a signatory to the letter, tells VOA’s James Butty, those values include good governance, promotion of political freedoms, and the rule of law.
President Joseph N. Boakai joins world leaders today Friday, September 20, 2024, the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly, specifically to begin formalities for Liberia’s formal launch of its 2026 bid for a non-permanent seat of the UN Security Council.
Lobbyist representing Liberia’s interest in New York has designated Liberia officially bid launch on September 27 in New York. Liberia is seeking to succeed its neighbour, Sierra Leone as representative of the Western Africa Region at the top level of the global body.
It may be recalled, in July 2023, former Liberian President George Weah announced the endorsement of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) of Liberia’s desire for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Former President Weah, at the time put his Liberia’s case to fellow West African leaders at the just concluded 63rd Extraordinary Summit of ECOWAS heads of state and government in Bissau, the capital of Guinea Bissau.
“The President sought the bloc’s unflinching support for a Non-Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council to represent the Western African Region for the period 2026 to 2027,” the statement said, announcing President Weah’s return to the country on Monday July 10.
The UNSC, one of six organs of the UN, has the most significant task, that of maintaining international peace and security.
Only five countries – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States – have permanent status in the council. The group, collectively known as the P5, each wields the power to veto a resolution.
The remaining 10 members are elected to serve on a rotational two-year, non-consecutive term without veto power. But the seats in the non-permanent category are allocated per region. Africa usually has three, which are currently occupied by Mozambique, Ghana and Gabon.
Sierra Leone and Algeria were elected June 2023 to replace Ghana and Gabon for the period 2024 to 2025.
Amidst all the lobby for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, the dream of Liberia might just be a mirage rather than certainty.
At the start of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, Liberia’s Foreign Minister, Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, condemned Russia invasion and stated that there is no justification for the invasion and occupation of a sovereign country.
“There is no justification for the invasion and occupation of a sovereign country, which we are currently observing in the actions of the Russian Federation in Ukraine. This causes massive casualties and destruction of infrastructure. Liberia supports and joins the joint declaration of the participants in the Crimea Platform. In addition, Liberia condemns the continuation of Russia’s brutal actions in Ukraine. Liberia would continue to support all measures aimed at protecting identity. We call for an immediate end to further attacks on Ukraine.” Liberia’s Foreign Minister, Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah said.
Liberia’s recent position on another permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), China, was protested by its Ambassador at the UN. Liberia, among fifty-one United Nations member countries issued a joint declaration condemning the Chinese government’s crimes against humanity committed against Uyghurs and other Turkic communities, and called on Beijing to end its systematic human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region. The statement was delivered to the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee by Britain’s Deputy Permanent Representative James Kariuki on October 18, 2023 said: “Members of Uyghur and other predominantly Muslim minorities in Xinjiang continue to suffer serious violations of their human rights.”
Another contestable issue is Liberia’s support for isreal in the ongoing Israel and Palestine war.
Liberia on 12 December 2023, Liberia voted with Israel and eight other countries in the United Nations General Assembly, opposing a resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza amidst the Israel–Hamas war.
Last week Wednesday, September 11,2024, Liberia abstained from voting as the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) overwhelmingly passed a resolution demanding an immediate end to Israel’s occupation of Palestine within 12 months. The resolution was passed despite opposition from the United States, which joined Israel and 12 other countries in voting against it.
The vote came in the middle of an emergency special session of the UNGA that was considering Israel’s actions in the occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the occupied Palestine territories against the backdrop of the conflict in Gaza.
More than 40 countries sponsored the resolution, which was the first that Palestinians filed after being granted unprecedented privileges for non-UN members earlier this year.
Liberia’s decision to abstain, along with countries like Rwanda, Germany, and the United Kingdom, highlights its reluctance to take a firm stance on this contentious issue, despite its historical alignment with U.S. foreign policy.
This mirrors Liberia’s handling of a similar situation under ex-President George Weah, where the country controversially voted against a UN ceasefire resolution in Gaza, only for Weah to later distance himself from that decision and reverse it.
Weah, however, instructed then-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dee-Maxwell Kemayah, to rescind the vote. The former Liberian leader also clarified that his decision not to vote in line with Israel is not an indication that he was going against America – Israel’s strongest ally.
“The vote is not against America. I’ve always voted for America, voted for anything they wanted. I have never gone against the United States before because I have no reason to go against the United States. We have a doctrine that the United States is our ally and the friends of our ally are our allies. So, we vote for them when necessary,” he said.
The resolution was passed with a 124-14 margin, with 43 abstentions, and seeks to reinforce the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) July advisory opinion. The ICJ declared Israel’s presence in the territories beyond the 1949 armistice line to be illegal.
The occupied territories include the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, which have been a long-standing point of contention in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The resolution serves to amplify international opposition to Israel’s activities in these territories and is part of broader efforts to seek accountability and adherence to international law.
Liberia hardly abstained on most resolutions related to the US as their long-standing bilateral relationship remains something of interest to the West African State.
Political pundits say while the country’s abstention avoids direct opposition to either side, it signals Liberia’s reluctance to take a firm position on one of the most contentious issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Israeli’s response
Israel has not participated in the ICJ hearings related to this matter, arguing that such proceedings could harm peace efforts. However, the international community’s stance, as reflected in the UNGA resolution, isolates Israel politically on this issue.
There has been public sentiment and advocacy on X, formerly known as Twitter. Some users highlighted the non-binding nature of UNGA resolutions, suggesting that while it sets a strong international norm, practical enforcement remains challenging.
This series of events underscores a pivotal moment in the international legal and political approach to the Israeli occupation, with the UNGA’s resolution marking a significant, though non-binding, step towards demanding an end to the occupation within a specified timeframe.
