By Amos Harris
MONROVIA, Liberia — Former Deputy Foreign Minister Elias Shoniyin has called on Liberia to strategically leverage its upcoming presidency of the United Nations Security Council to advance core foreign policy priorities and secure tangible development gains for its citizens.
Ambassador-at-Large Shoniyin made the call on August 21, 2026, while presenting at the Second Session of the Bi-Annual George W. Wallace, Jr. Ambassadorial Lecture Series, held at the Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia.
Delivering an address on “The Alignment of Liberia’s Presidency on the UN Security Council with Foreign Policy Objectives,” Shoniyin emphasized that the presidency must not be treated merely as a symbolic diplomatic honor. Instead, he framed it as a pivotal opportunity to champion international peace, elevate African priorities, and directly improve the livelihoods of ordinary Liberians.
Shoniyin outlined Liberia’s key foreign policy goals, which include safeguarding national sovereignty, driving economic transformation, deepening diaspora and civic engagement, fostering regional stability, and enhancing human development alongside technological competitiveness.
He noted that presiding over the Security Council offers Liberia a powerful global platform to advocate for preventive diplomacy, conflict mediation, early-warning frameworks, post-conflict reconstruction, and enhanced synergy between the United Nations, the African Union, and ECOWAS.
Highlighting the nation’s historic trajectory, Shoniyin observed that Liberia’s journey from hosting international peacekeepers to shaping global security discussions demonstrates its remarkable transition from an “agenda item” to an “agenda setter.”
The former Deputy Foreign Minister also advocated for a strong alignment between diplomatic visibility and economic diplomacy. He pointed out that holding the Security Council presidency provides unprecedented access to major world powers, financial institutions, global media networks, and international trade bodies.
He urged the government to capitalize on this global spotlight by attracting responsible foreign direct investment, concessional financing, trade partnerships, technology transfers, tourism, and market access for domestic businesses, thereby reinforcing Liberia’s reputation as a stable, democratic nation open for business.
Beyond macroeconomic goals, Shoniyin called on policymakers to ensure that international diplomacy delivers direct benefits to everyday citizens. He cited diaspora partnerships, academic scholarships, research collaboration, digital infrastructure expansion, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence training as critical areas for immediate investment.
He identified climate change adaptation, public health security, youth empowerment, and women’s economic inclusion as fundamental human-security priorities that should feature prominently in Liberia’s international advocacy.
However, Shoniyin cautioned that global credibility relies heavily on domestic performance. He stressed that Liberia cannot effectively champion governance, accountability, and the rule of law on the world stage without simultaneously reinforcing those values at home.
To maximize results, he recommended approaching the Security Council presidency as a whole-of-government initiative. This effort, he said, should be coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and actively supported by government ministries, academia, the private sector, civil society, the media, diplomatic missions, and the diaspora.
Shoniyin concluded that the ultimate benchmark of success will be measurable outcomes—ranging from peace initiatives and economic partnerships to technological advancements and institutional strengthening.
“Ultimately, our foreign policy must come home as peace, investment, markets, knowledge, technology, jobs, stronger institutions, and opportunity,” Shoniyin said, adding that the goal must be to transform presence into influence, influence into strategic partnerships, and partnerships into long-term national progress.