By J. Burgess Carter and Zac T. Sherman

Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Minister of Foreign Affairs-designate, has told members of the Senate that, when confirmed, she will ensure and set an effective and efficient Foreign Service agenda for the country, taking the country on a trajectory that would ensure it benefits all the international goodwill that can be attracted in the global space.

She promised to ensure that Liberia meets up with financial obligations with both the African Union and ECOWAS; and also promised to work with the United States government, through the US embassy, regarding that country’s visa policy for Liberians desirous to visit that country.

In order for Liberia to benefit from extensive visa stay, Beysolow-Nyanti noted that Liberia, like is done for neighboring countries such as Ghana, and Ivory Coast, which benefit from years of visa stay, “we need to either introduce a visa waiver for Americans and/or Europeans wishing to visit our country, or extensive visa stay.” It is only then, according to the Foreign Minister-designate, that the country can benefit from more investments and tourism.

In spite of Liberia’s traditional relationship with the United States, she said, “We must remain committed to the cause of African unity when it comes to us taking a united decision that will benefit the continent. We need to adopt a new pattern of global relationship that will bring our country closer to our traditional friends, not as a father and son, not as two friends walking and working side by side for our mutual benefits.”

She, at the same time, assured supporting Liberian missions in foreign countries with efficiency and effectiveness. 

According to the former high-profile UN diplomat, when confirmed, the ministry under her watch will take a careful review of Liberia’s passport regime to meet international recognition and credibility.

Setting the Stage for an Enthralling Presentation

Having received weeks of sustained attacks on social media over her academic credentials, Madam Nyanti yesterday faced the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, but instead of a highly anticipated grilling from the Senators, the former United Nations Assistant Secretary-General thrilled the lawmakers on both her academic achievements and vast International experience.

She told her interviewers about how she fled to the United States as a refugee during the 1990s civil war. She emotionally charged the audience when she began sharing her struggle as a young woman who had to fend for herself and her kids, while at the same time trying to continue her academic sojourn; how she struggled to overcome the challenges of Liberia, and how she made it to the highest echelons of global public service.

Beysolow-Nyanti disclosed at the confirmation hearing yesterday that in months’ time, she is expected to receive a terminal degree and will be known as “Reverend Dr. Nyanti.”

A Committed Patriot

It is no secret that the Foreign Minister-designate’s extensive work with the United Nations took her as far as Nepal, Kathmandu, Jordan, Yemen, and South Sudan, among the most conflict-ridden areas in the Middle East and Asia.

Having cleared any apparent doubts the Senators may have had about her qualification to steward the country’s top diplomatic post, she indulged their questions about her perspectives on the conflicts between Israel and Hamas, as well as between Russia and Ukraine, as far as Liberia is concerned. She even shared her personal experience concerning non-Liberians traveling on Liberian passports, and provided some cursory suggestions on how she would address the issue, once confirmed.

She told the Senate Committee that three times prior to November 14, 2023; she was asked by the United Nations system to take a new assignment in Italy, but decided that it was about time that she returned home to do for her people what she successfully did for troubled countries like Nepal, Yemen and South Sudan.

Though her three children are American citizens and she was urged and encouraged to take up American citizenship, Madam Nyanti, dressed in a long yellow gown that is fast becoming her trademark outfit, said she decided that once born a Liberian, there was no need to change her passport.

Seeking Pieces of Evidence from U.S. against Sanctioned Officials

The Foreign Affairs Designate told the Senators that she would advise President Joseph Boakai to seek evidence from the U.S. Embassy concerning sanctioned Liberian government officials that would enable the government to take appropriate action. She, however, noted that allegations should be backed by evidence, noting that it is right for sanctions against officials to be proven by evidence.

The evidence, she noted, will create an opportunity to facilitate state prosecution.

She stressed the need to minimize corruption by employing robust measures and taking action against corrupt individuals so as to avoid international embarrassment.

She stressed the imperative for Liberia to create an enabling environment to fund major sectors. “We need to strengthen our system of governance so that we can avoid external interference as a country,” she said.

She said the peaceful transition of power demonstrated recently provides an opportunity that Liberia can leverage in building its foreign policies. She wants Liberia to align with the African Union in making decisions at international levels, not be influenced by Western power, adding that the global power struggle has the propensity to distract the country from achieving national development.

Meanwhile, with her impressive performance, and the personal affirmations from individual Senators, it appears all but a done deal, and the Abraham Darius Dillon-chaired committee is expected to take their report to plenary for voting on the record.