In the Space of 48 hours diplomats from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East presented letters of credence to Liberian President Joseph Boakai.
The ceremony signifies the effective deployment of the foreign officials as their respective country’s representatives in the West African nation.
During the separate ceremonies and meetings, President Boakai expressed gratitude to each Ambassador for that country’s trust and confidence in his administration and reaffirmed his commitment to working closely with them to further the agenda of his government, a statement posted on presidency’s website said.
“The President also emphasized the importance of maintaining the longstanding relationships between Liberia and the respective countries, acknowledging their significant contributions to global peace and security.”
Oracle News Daily review of the list of diplomats shows, about five of the accredited Ambassadors are from countries that fully back Russia and or refused to condemn the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine, which has threatened global peace and shattered economies including Liberia’s.
Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is abhorrent to Liberia’s foreign policy and the country has been vocal about its condemnation.
Liberia also fears Russia’s growing dominance in West Africa and the Mano River basin.
Russian operatives are making efforts to enter Liberia, one year after US intelligence showed Wagner Group, the mercenary army operated by Vladimir Putin’s deceased rogue ally Yevgeny Prigozhin was accelerating plans for a coup in Liberia, Sierra Leone and the Ivory Coast.
The Russian have established foothold and influence in three countries in the Mano River Union basin including Guinea, Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone, leaving Liberia isolated, Deputy National Security Director Mounir Siaplay told a recent hearing.
Russia and Guinea military rulers are enjoying open and positive relations. The country even remains a key economic outpost for Russia, still a mining resource and sponsored by Russian investment.
Russian oil and natural gas companies, such as Gazprom, Rosneft, Tatneft and Stroytransgaz, make the largest investments in production resources in Africa. Subsidiaries of Russia’s Atomic Energy Corporation, Rosatom, are involved in uranium mining projects in Botswana, Namibia and Tanzania. Russian mining, iron and steel companies such as RUSAL are also involved in extraction projects for gold, iron, vanadium and jewellery in Guinea.
Namibia abstained along with 15 other African states, when the United Nations General Assembly took a vote on Russia’s war against Ukraine in an emergency session on 2 March, an overwhelming 141 out of 193 member states supported the resolution calling on Russia to withdraw from Ukraine. The country has declined on all UN related vote on the matter.
Sri Lanka is Russia ally. The country has refused to condemned Russia aggression against Ukraine. Due to its long-standing political, economic and military ties with Russia,
