President Joseph Boakai on Monday departed for an official visit to Ethiopia with senior security officials as Liberia contends with an ongoing presence of Guinean forces along its northern frontier that has persisted for more than a month.
Boakai’s delegation, which landed in Addis Ababa for meetings scheduled April 14–15, includes Foreign Minister Sarah Beysolow Nyanti, Defense Minister Brig. Gen. (Rtd.) Geraldine Janet George and National Security Adviser Samuel Kofi Woods, according to a presidential press statement.
The trip follows an invitation from Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and will focus on bolstering bilateral ties and discussions “on bilateral, regional, and international matters of mutual interest,” the release said.
The visit comes amid heightened concern in Monrovia over security along the border with Guinea, where troops have remained in Liberian territory for more than a month with no public sign of withdrawal.
Liberia’s armed forces are small—roughly 2,000 personnel—and lack advanced defense capabilities, increasing pressure on the government to seek external support or political remedies.
Ethiopia’s military, by contrast, is one of the continent’s most capable. In 2026 it was ranked fifth in Africa and 47th globally, with an estimated annual budget exceeding $2 billion and significant modernization investments in drones, air defense systems and intelligence capabilities.
Observers say engagement with Addis Ababa could be aimed at securing diplomatic backing, technical assistance or security cooperation that Liberia is not able to provide unilaterally.
The presidential itinerary indicates Boakai will hold talks with Prime Minister Abiy and other senior Ethiopian officials.
The Liberian presidency said the visit is intended to deepen cooperation “across key sectors,” without elaborating on whether security assistance or mediation over the Guinea deployment will be formally requested.
The persistence of Guinean forces on Liberian soil has raised concern among regional actors and could complicate already fragile security dynamics in West Africa if not resolved quickly.
