Liberia: “No Friend of U.S., No Friend of Ours”

 

.... Weah boasts, basking in newfound graces with Washington

President George Weah has made a bold diplomatic declaration, alerting enemies of the United States that Liberia has nothing to do with anyone who opposes Uncle Sam.

Weah put enemies of the US — though he did not name any — on notice that Liberia cannot befriend countries that are not friends with his country's traditional ally, the USA.

“If you’re not a friend of America, you are not our friend,” President George Manneh Weah declared before the joint session of the Legislature on Capitol Hill in Monrovia on Monday when he delivered his 6th and final State of the Nation Address for his current term of office. 

Wait. Wasn’t it the famous Chinese general and military strategist, Sun Tzu, who said, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend”? Aha. And while many have twisted the phrase to suit their own side of the ‘frenemy triangle’, President Weah is now taking an open jab at the ‘enemies’ of his friend.

The President’s open declaration comes as the United States embarks on a campaign to consolidate its relationship with African nations and others around the world in the wake of increasingly strained relations between China, Russia and North Korea. 

It also comes several weeks after President Weah attended the Biden Democracy forum in Washington, held with leaders of dozens of African countries.

President Weah’s open declaration comes as the United States embarks on a campaign to consolidate its relationship with African nations and others around the world in the wake of increasingly strained relations between China, Russia and North Korea.

“The democratic credential of Liberia will be safely guarded,” he told the Lawmakers at the SONA, also reporting that, in response to the need to buttress democracy in Africa, President Joe Biden promised to give US$165M this year for elections around Africa. Of this amount, Liberia is expected to receive US$20 million.

But Weah’s latest diplomatic notice to US rivals comes as the third instance in a little over a year since his administration had observers baffled as it broke away from a decades-long foreign policy of non-interference in other states’ internal matters.

Liberia signed joint statements last year condemning China’s human rights record in the United Nations Human Rights Council. The statements, signed by a Dutch-led coalition of nearly 50 mostly Western countries, included Liberia as the only African nation, along with the kingdom of Eswatini.

China, much like the US government and the EU, is a strategic partner for Liberia. So, when the Liberian government joined its western allies on October 21, at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to rebuke Beijing’s alleged repressive actions in Xinjiang, it caught China by surprise — leading to a furious response two months after the condemnation.

Liberia’s efforts along with Turkey and Eswatini — all first countries in joining the condemnation against China — helped push back against Beijing’s claims that the rebuke is part of a Western effort to keep China from rising.

Last year, President Weah also strongly condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, saying the war is having a harsh impact on Ukraine as well as the rest of the world.

The Ukraine-Russia war, which enters its first year on February 24 this year, dominated the speeches and other discussions of the 77th UN General Assembly in New York in 2022 with Liberians joining the fray.

“Just as the Ukrainian people are enduring the harsh impact of this unwarranted military incursion, the rest of the world is feeling the harsh consequences of economic downturn caused by disruptions in global supply chains, food insecurity, and rising prices of basic goods and services,” President Weah told the United Nations General Assembly.

However, the Weah administration did not offer any explanation for its support of the statements which condemned China’s human rights violations against Uyghurs and other Muslims, but some diplomatic experts and influential Liberians claim the government’s stance against China was a strategy to appease the US and dissuade her from imposing more sanctions after three top officials were hooked a month earlier.

Liberia has historic ties to the United States and has voted with the US on many issues at international forums in the past, even without being asked, Samuel Kofi Woods II, a prominent human rights lawyer and minister in the Sirleaf administration, told Anthony Stephens of New Narratives in an interview last year. But Liberia has never taken a stand against China. 

“In this case and under these circumstances, it is clear that Liberia badly wanted a quid quo pro and it could be on the issue of sanctions,” Woods said.

Liberia’s action to sign the statements angered the Chinese government, threatening to hold back much needed aid to Liberia, after expressing serious “disappointment” in Liberia for joining its (China) western rivals.

Beijing, in a response conveyed through its Ambassador to Liberia, Ren Yisheng, said that allegations by some Western countries in a so-called “joint statement” on China’s human rights situation are unwarranted allegations and hopes that Liberia discerns the truth and stands on the side of correctness and justice with concrete actions.

“China is shocked and disappointed that Liberia, a good friend and brother of China, is among those countries that have supported this “joint statement”, and it is, in fact, the only African country that has diplomatic relations with China that have done so,” Yisheng added. “We sincerely hope that Liberia can keep her eyes open, discern the truth, not be deceived by those with ulterior motives, and stand on the side of correctness and justice with concrete actions.”

Many observers are of the belief that this latest shocker from President Weah won’t be well received by Beijing, which has in recent years made significant investments in notable infrastructure projects such as the Ministerial Complex, Roberts International Airport, the refurbishment of the SKD Sports Complex and the construction of the Fendall Campus of the University of Liberia, to name but a few.

However, as a way of showing off his new found good graces with Washington, Weah, at Monday's SONA, boasted of his interactions with US President Joe Biden and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Weah said he was privileged to deliver the Keynote Address at the African and Diaspora Young Leaders Forum, one of the largest forums at the US-Africa Leaders’ Summit, which was held in Washington DC, USA last December.

“I was privileged to honor an invitation from Mr. Joseph R. Biden, Jr, President of the United States, to participate in the Summit,” he said, adding that he made a strong commitment to the US President to hold free, fair, transparent, peaceful, inclusive and democratic elections in Liberia.

“I also made it abundantly clear that, under my watch, the democratic credentials of Liberia will be safeguarded, as well as its peace, stability, and security,” he said. “These productive meetings afforded me the opportunity to reaffirm my commitment to strengthen the already existing ties between Liberia and the United States of America, and deepen the close bonds of friendship and cooperation. 

“I pledged to that friendly Government my determination to continue close collaboration with them in improving good and accountable governance, democracy, and the rule of law in Liberia.”

President Weah noted that he also received a special public commendation from Secretary Blinken, who he said lauded him for his “great leadership and for strengthening the US-Liberia bond.” 

“It is not me who said so, o… da ley US Secretary of State sef say so,” Weah boasted in Liberian pidgin with wild laughs from the audience.  

Weah added that a convinced Blinken is confident that US-Liberia relations will flourish once he (Weah) is at the echelon of political authority in Liberia. 

“Mr. President, I am sure that US-Liberia relations will flourish under your leadership,” Weah said, quoting the US Secretary of State. 

“And, you know what?”  Weah added, “He is absolutely right!”

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