The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Dean of the Cabinet, H.E. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, has been recognized by the Hot Pepper as the Personality of the Year 2025 as the year comes to a close and upon reviewing the activities of public and private officials over the year.
The Joseph N. Boakai-led administration has boasted of several achievements in 2025, including hitting a billion-dollar budget, leading Liberia to re-election at IMO Category “A” Council, on-going construction of two overpasses, and several bilateral cooperations, but high on the list is the securing of a second Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact and the election on the United Nations Security Council as a Non-Permanent Member in June 2025—efforts largely led by the Chief Implementer of Liberia’s foreign policy, Minister Beysolow.
Since her appointment in February 2024, Minister Beysolow has played a crucial role in restoring US-Liberia relations, a major aspect of the nation’s foreign policy that was arguably downplayed by the Weah administration, which led to tense engagements and non-cooperations.
In June 2024, Minister Beysolow held talks with the Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, Alice Albright, discussing ways to leverage the corporation’s resources to support development initiatives in Liberia, with a focus on good governance, rule of law, infrastructure, and economic growth. She also held talks with ranking members of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee, as well as the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Mary Catherine Molly Phee, and representatives from the Department of Defense, Office of Foreign Assets Control and USAID, among others.
A year after and follow-up on the MCC Compact, Minister Beysolow met with the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, on October 17, 2025, at which time he praised the on-going efforts of the Millennium Challenge Corporation to develop U.S.-friendly infrastructure projects in Liberia. The meeting also explored avenues for expanding U.S. participation in Liberia’s critical minerals sector with the aim of creating jobs and economic growth in both the United States and Liberia.
A few weeks ago, it was announced that Liberia has secured a second MCC compact, with the potential of unlocking up to US$500 million for road infrastructure, energy and economic growth.
Furthermore, Minister Beysolow downplayed the “noisy politics” and elected to continue the good initiatives of her predecessor. Among those she achieved in completing is the campaign for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council and the decentralization of the passport section of the ministry.
In June 2025, Liberia secured a historic non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2026—2027 term, winning overwhelmingly with 181 votes, marking its return to the powerful body after over 60 years, fulfilling a major diplomatic goal to amplify African voices and global peace efforts.
No doubt, Minister Beysolow’s initiative with the US government is well paying off in 2025, with Liberia regaining its positions as a “friend” to the US in whom it is well-pleased.
Major initiatives achieved by the Boakai administration through partial or full efforts of Minister Beysolow include:
- Health Cooperation: A landmark $124 million MOU was signed in December 2025 to boost Liberia’s health systems, disease response, and workforce.
- Visa Reciprocity: The U.S. extended non-immigrant (B1/B2) visa validity for Liberians from 12 to 36 months, a move praised as a sign of strong partnership.
- Economic Dialogue: Discussions focused on mining, small business, and railway access, with U.S. officials lauding Liberia’s economic diplomacy.
- UN Security Council: Liberia’s election to a non-permanent UNSC seat (2026-2027) was celebrated, strengthening its global role alongside its key ally, the U.S.
- MCC Compact: Liberia was reaffirmed for a second MCC Compact, signaling commitment to governance and economic reforms for energy, roads, and education.
Beyond US-Liberia relations, Minister Beysolow has played key roles in bringing stability between Liberia and neighboring Guinea, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast, which serves the greater good for Liberia’s peace, stability and security.
In late 2024, Liberia narrowly averted a potential civil and diplomatic crisis with its neighbor Guinea with the controversial handover of Ibrahim Khalif Cherif, a Guinean national accused of plotting subversive activities against Guinea’s military junta. However, the Foreign Ministry played its role in turning Cherif over and ensured that all diplomatic ties were restored.
Under her watch, Liberia has also strengthened ties with countries like Bahrain, Uzbekistan, Croatia, and Morocco, fostering collaboration in trade, education, health, and tourism.
Domestically, Minister Beysolow has decentralized the Passport Division of the ministry to other counties, including Bong and Grand Gedeh, with the anticipation to cover other counties soon. She has also returned sanity to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which insiders said was nearly divided into equal halves. According to information, there were staffers who were bitter with former Minister Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, while others stood as loyalists. However, Minister Beysolow’s administrative practice is said to have broken the divisive line and reunited the workforce at the ministry.
The Hot Pepper sees Minister Beysolow as a game-changer, and commend her strides in restoring Liberia’s global credibility and trust. “The Editorial Board, management and newsroom staff at Hot Pepper extend congratulations to H.E. Sara Beysolow Nyanti as our Personality of the Year 2025,” Hot Pepper’s acting Managing Editor, Sheikh O. Jalloh, is quoted as saying.
