–Ties Strengthened Since Ellen’s Administration
There has been concerns over the Joseph Boakai administration strengthening relations with the Russian Federation, with expressed fear that this is a disregard to the bonds between Liberia and the United States, which jeopardizes the nation’s international alliances and sends the wrong message to its allies.
These concerns have been emphasized by the main opposition, Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), the Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND), a civil society group headed by former CDC Chairman, Mulbah K. Morlu, and other individuals and groups, who see the move as a policy reversal that threatens Liberia’s stability, peace and democracy.
These statements and concerns were stemmed from Liberia’s recent participation in the Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, where Liberia expressed renewed diplomatic relations with Russia.
It can be recalled that on November 10, 2024 Liberia, along with other African countries as well as the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Executive Council and the President of the ECOWAS Commission, attended the First Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, held in Sochi, Russia. Liberia was represented by the Deputy Minister for International Cooperation and Economic Integration, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abrahim Al-Bakri Nyei, who underscored that Liberia’s participation is a demonstration of the nation’s interest and desire to engage as a member of the African bloc and explore partnership that confront common global challenges, which include climate change, insecurity, poverty and inequality, and the common aspiration to deliver social and economic prosperity for the people.
In return, the Russian Federation expressed interest in reopening its embassy in Liberia.
But the news has not been receptively received, especially by members of the opposition community, who are now using the means to create political and diplomatic conflict for the nation. some of them even described the move of opening a Russian embassy in Liberia as the first of its kind.
However, research conducted by the Hot Pepper has proved that Liberia has had standing diplomatic ties with the Russian Federation since June 7, 1972, when Liberia renewed the somewhat dormant ties that were established between the two countries on January 11, 1956.
The research revealed that during the Cold War, diplomatic relations went sour between Russia and the Samuel K. Doe administration, and when the war erupted in 1989 the Russians closed the doors of their embassy in Liberia, which was located in Congo Town, adjacent Lonestarcell office and opposite the CDC headquarters.
After the 14-year civil war and during President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf’s first term, Liberia resumed bilateral relations with the Russian Federation and Italy on Friday, March 12, 2010, when ambassadors of both countries presented their letters of credence to President Sirleaf in separate ceremonies.
The then Russian Ambassador to Liberia, Vladimir V. Barbin, promised to redouble efforts to accelerate bilateral cooperation between his country and Liberia. The Russians were awarded the Putu Mountain in Grand Gedeh County, after which they signed a concession for the establishment of the Putu Iron Ore Mining Company.
In 2014, Russia contributed US$60 million to the fight against the deadly Ebola Virus, with the Sirleaf government acknowledging Russia as one of the major contributors to Liberia in the fight against the viral disease.
The Russian Federation renewed its commitment to the long-standing friendship when its new ambassador to Liberia, Dmitry Suslov, presented his Letter of Credence to President Sirleaf in March 2015.
In 2016, Liberia celebrated 60 years of diplomatic relations with Russia, with President Sirleaf sending a message of renewed diplomatic ties to H.E. Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, and the government and people of Russia.
In the message to Russia on behalf of President Sirleaf, the then Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, B. Elias Shoniyin, said, ““Today, we recall with great admiration and thanks, the inception of relations between our two countries, advanced by offers of economic and technical aid to Liberia in January 1956, when a Soviet delegation attended the third inauguration of Liberia’s former President, H.E. Mr. William V. S. Tubman.”
Minister Shoniyin underscored that the Liberian government was satisfied to note that their engagement have remained cordial and promising; adding that he is confident that the celebration of 60 years of diplomatic relations will instigate new and prosperous dimension to the enhancement and enrichment of Liberia-Russia relations, both at the bilateral and multilateral echelon, and pave the way for even stronger engagements in the future.
These relations continued during the George Weah administration when, in 2023, Liberia was invited to the Russian Federation Summit in St. Petersburg, Russia. The summit was held in July 2023, and Liberia was among African nations invited to the occasion, but was unable to participate due to the ensuing 2023 general and presidential elections campaign, which was the focus of the Weah administration.
Meanwhile, political pundits have described as “empty noise” statements emanating from leaders of the CDC, mainly Jefferson Koijee, and STAND, observing that it is either these people do not understand the foundation and history of the nation’s foreign policy or choose to play low politics with a matter of sensitive nature.
The pundits condemned the critics of the nation’s policy, and reminded Koijee and Morlu that even during the CDC administration Liberia had ties with Russia, which was never broken. According to them, the Minister of Justice under the Weah administration, Cllr. Musa Dean, had served as Honorary Consul of the High Office of the Russian Federation in Liberia. They disclosed that this office has been in existence since the Russian embassy moved to Ivory Coast, and is now headed by Melee Kermue, former CEO of Infinite Holdings Oil and Gas, incorporated.
They wondered why individuals who recently left power would choose to lie to the Liberian public to ridicule the entire nation at the detriment of the peace and security and to the ambiance of their self-aggrandizement.