President Joseph Nyuma Boakai is set to deliver his third State of the Nation address this Monday as he crosses the midpoint of his six year term, with the government expected to press a message centered on economic recovery, job creation, and expanded mining and oil activity.
The address — required by Article 58 of the Constitution and to be delivered before the National Legislature — will outline the administration’s FY2026 priorities and set the legislative agenda for the coming session.
Officials and observers say the speech will aim to reassure Liberians and investors that the country is on track to meet ambitious revenue and development targets even as it confronts inflation, fiscal constraints and governance concerns.
Economy and jobs
Boakai is likely to foreground economic indicators and policy responses. The administration will tout progress in GDP growth — but will also have to respond to more sobering official forecasts. The IMF’s 2025 update cut Liberia’s growth outlook and reported real GDP of 4. % in 2024, while inflation accelerated to about 10.7% in 2025.
Expect the President to set out measures to boost growth and employment, reiterating the government’s goal of building a vibrant economy and generating more formal jobs.
The address is expected to preview the FY2026 budget framework and explain planned revisions to the country’s $8 billion development financing plan in response to IMF recommendations. Officials are also likely to highlight planned investments in digital inclusion and skills programs intended to bring more Liberians into the labor force.
Mining, oil and energy
A major theme will be the natural resource expansion that the government says will underpin growth. Boakai is expected to speak about landmark and pending deals in mining and energy — including a possible third amendment with ArcelorMittal to expand iron ore output, investments by Ivanhoe Atlantic, and offshore oil acreage held by TotalEnergies.
A hydrocarbon like seep reported in the Roberts Basin has renewed talk of onshore exploration. The President may announce steps to accelerate seismic work and regulatory approvals.
The administration has set a target of generating roughly $3 billion per year from mining and energy by 2029. The speech will likely call on the legislature to fast-track enabling legislation and oversight measures to translate investment pledges into jobs and public revenue while promising safeguards for transparency and environmental management.
Finance, donors and IMF engagement
Boakai’s address is expected to update lawmakers on negotiations with international partners. Liberia is pursuing concessional finance under the IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Facility — potentially unlocking roughly SDR 1.4 billion — and is in talks for compact style support that could include infrastructure financing.
The President will likely frame these engagements as necessary to stabilize public finances and expand capital for priority sectors.
Agriculture, infrastructure and social sectors
The SONA is also expected to emphasize agriculture — an area the administration has targeted for food security and employment. Officials may highlight the National Agriculture Plan, new partnerships for rice expansion (including a planned 7,400-hectare project), and measures to boost processing and rural roads.
On infrastructure, Boakai is expected to report progress on power sector deals (including increased imports from Côte d’Ivoire Energies and plans for the St. Paul 2 hydropower project), water repairs and ongoing road projects, while acknowledging service gaps that remain.
Governance and rule of law
The President cannot avoid questions about governance. The administration has faced criticism over actions that critics say have strained the rule of law, and anticorruption efforts have yielded limited recoveries.
Observers will be watching for specific commitments on prosecuting high-profile cases, strengthening independent oversight bodies, and restoring public confidence in institutions.
Security, health and education
Boakai is expected to address public security concerns and outline measures to curb abuses and improve policing. He will also present plans for health and education financing, pointing to recent increases in sector budgets, donor support — including a U.S. five-year MOU for health and an IDA credit for the Liberia EXCEL education project — and priorities for improving service delivery.
What lawmakers will look for
Members of the legislature, policy actors and political stakeholders and investors will scrutinize whether the speech includes concrete timetables, legislative requests and budget allocations to deliver on promises — especially on jobs, transparent management of resource revenues, and anticorruption measures. With growth forecasts fragile and inflation biting households, analysts say the address will be judged not on rhetoric but on the clarity of the policy path and the sequencing of reforms that follow.
