Monrovia—For the first time in more than six decades, Liberia will return to the United Nations Security Council after winning one of five non-permanent seats for the 2026-27 term. In balloting at UN Headquarters on 3 June, Liberia secured 181 of 187 possible votes—well above the two-thirds threshold required.
“I want to acknowledge Assistant Minister Karishma Pelham-Raad for working diligently in ensuring that Liberia wins the non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council,” said Minister Nyanti. “A vote for Liberia is a vote for a vision, a vision for a more inclusive, responsive, and equitable Security Council.”
The victory is the country’s first since its debut Council tenure in 1961 and comes under the administration of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti. Assistant Minister for International Organizations Karishma P. H. Pelham-Raad, appointed national chair of the campaign in June 2024, coordinated the year-long diplomatic push.
“This campaign was about more than winning a seat,” Pelham-Raad said after the vote. “It was about sharing Liberia’s story of resilience and demonstrating our commitment to peace and multilateral cooperation.”
Key campaign themes included Liberia’s record in peacekeeping, its post-war democratic gains, and its stewardship of more than 44 percent of West Africa’s remaining rainforest. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Liberia’s Permanent Mission to the UN, and regional partners mounted targeted outreach to voting blocs and took part in high-level forums to press their case.
Foreign Minister Nyanti, speaking at the campaign’s closing reception in New York, called the result “a resounding endorsement of Liberia’s emerging leadership in global peacebuilding.”
“Liberia does not seek this seat as a reward but as a responsibility,” she said. “A vote for Liberia is a vote for a more inclusive, responsive, and equitable Security Council.”
Liberia will take its seat in January 2026 alongside Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Latvia. The five countries will replace Algeria, Guyana, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, and Slovenia, whose terms expire in December 2025.
The Security Council comprises 15 members: five permanent veto-wielding powers—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—and ten non-permanent members elected for staggered two-year terms.
With its election, Liberia positions itself once again as an active voice on issues ranging from conflict prevention to climate security. “Our presence on the Council will reflect the perspective of nations that have overcome adversity and now seek to lead with purpose,” Pelham-Raad said.
Liberia’s tenure will begin a new chapter in the country’s diplomatic engagement, underscoring its aspiration to serve as a bridge between large and small states on the world’s most pressing peace and security challenges.
