-On the Margins of the AU Summit in Addis Ababa
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA – On the sidelines of the 38th African Union (AU) Summit, His Excellency Joseph N. Boakai, President of the Republic of Liberia, convened a high-level Breakfast Consultation on the Future of the United Nations this morning at the Marriott Hotel. The closed-door session brought together a select group of African heads of state and senior representatives for frank and forward-looking dialogue on the evolving role of the multilateral institution.
The strategic meeting underscores Liberia’s proactive diplomatic posture, anchored by its current tenure on the United Nations Security Council and its recent assumption of the Chairmanship of the African Group in New York. President Boakai is leveraging these influential positions to build continental consensus on critical issues, with a focus on amplifying Africa’s voice in global governance.
Discussions at the breakfast centered on the upcoming election of the next UN Secretary-General and the broader imperative of institutional reform. Participants engaged in a candid exchange on whether the current selection cycle is structured to facilitate meaningful change and ensure that Africa’s priorities and interests are adequately represented at the highest levels of the world body. The informal setting was designed to encourage open dialogue and foster strategic alignment among African leaders on these pivotal matters.
Prior to today’s consultation, President Boakai engaged in a series of strategic bilateral meetings to strengthen Liberia’s international partnerships. A key highlight was a meeting yesterday with His Excellency Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, held at the Addis International Convention Center. The two leaders explored avenues for enhanced bilateral cooperation and discussed issues of mutual interest, reinforcing the longstanding ties between their nations.
Earlier in the week, on Friday, February 13, President Boakai held separate high-level engagements at his Presidential Suite at the Marriott Hotel. He hosted Dr. Abdullah Almusaibeeh, President of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), to discuss potential investments and development partnerships. He also met with Mr. Mame Mandiaye Niang, Acting Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), to confer on matters of international justice and the rule of law.
