The Foreign Affairs Minister, Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah has held talks in Washington D.C. with United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Madam Molly Phee.
The meeting between the United States and Liberian Officials took place at the U.S. State Department on Wednesday, March 22, with focus on ways to strengthen democracy and emphasized the upcoming elections, as well as issues of governance and respect for fundamental human rights.
According to a dispatch from the Liberian Embassy accredited near Washington DC, other areas of focus during the meeting were Liberia’s strong support for Ukraine’s sovereignty in its war with Russia and the Weah-Administration’s admonition to regional leaders, ECOWAS, to respect constitutional term limits and democratic order as well as Liberia’s welcoming stance on the global front in support of human rights.
Foreign Minister Kemayah was accompanied at the meeting by the Commissioner of the Liberia Maritime Authority, Lenn Eugene Nagbe, Information Minister Ledgerhood Julius Rennie, and the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Liberian Embassy in Washington D.C., Isaac C. Yeah, while U. S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Madam Phee was accompanied by Mr. Brian Neubert, United States Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs and Director of the Office of West African Affairs and Madam Caroline Dow, Liberia Desk Officer at the United States Department of State.
During the talks, Foreign Minister Kemayah informed the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State about President George Manneh Weah’s unflinching practical commitment to ensure the conduct of a free, fair, transparent, peaceful, credible and inclusive electoral process for the ensuing October 10, Presidential and Legislative elections aimed at the consolidation of Liberia’s democracy.
Ambassador Kemayah emphasized the importance the Liberian leader and his government’s place on further strengthening partnership with the United States, especially building on the irreversible gains of their longstanding strong traditional and bilateral ties as Liberia moves towards Presidential and Legislative elections in October 2023.
Foreign Minister Kemayah said this will further boost President Weah and the Liberian Government’s relentless desire to ensure that the October 10, 2023 electoral process is free, fair, transparent, peaceful, inclusive and credible, aimed at meeting international standard and best practice.
Foreign Minister Kemayah informed the U.S. officials that efforts are afoot through a multilateral mechanism, involving the United Nations, ECOWAS, United States, European Union, United Kingdom and the rest of the Diplomatic Corps in Liberia for the Political Parties in Liberia to commit themselves to ensuring a violent- free electoral process through the signing of a “Peace and Unity Accord”, pledging a non-violent electoral process, and respect for the October 10, 2023 Presidential and Legislative Electoral process.
On the international front with a focus on the Russian-Ukraine conflict, the Liberian Chief diplomat reiterated Liberia’s unflinching commitment and support for the position of the United States, which backs Ukraine’s sovereignty and right to defend itself against Russia’s “unprovoked” aggression.
Amb. Kemayah assured the United States officials that Liberia will continue to remain engaged with its “brothers and sisters” in Ukraine and the international coalition for a peaceful solution to the ongoing unprovoked aggression in Ukraine.
With respect to Liberia’s engagements with ECOWAS concerning regional peace and security, Foreign Minister Kemayah spoke of President Weah’s unreserved commitment in supporting and continuing to be an integral part of ongoing initiatives geared towards the restoration of democracy and constitutional order in neighboring Guinea and far afield Mali and Burkina Faso. Ambassador Kemayah stressed that the Administration of President Weah holds the strong view that unconstitutional means of clinching to power is a threat to peace and anti- democracy.
“Madam Assistant Secretary of State, this is why at all of the ECOWAS Summits on Regional Peace and Security, our President, George Manneh Weah, has been very outright and vocal in admonishing his colleagues, Heads of State and Government, that the consolidation of peace and security is only assured when there is strict adherence to constitutional term limits”, Foreign Minister Kemayah averred.
Foreign Minister Kemayah then used the occasion to also seek the support of the United States for the candidature of the Republic of Liberia for the Seat of Non-Permanent Member at the United Nations Security Council for the period 2026/2027 at the elections to be held in June 2025 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, and for Liberia’s Candidature for “Category A” Status at the International Maritime Organization elections.
In response to U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Phee’s count on corruption,
Ambassador Kemayah stressed that President Weah remains resolute in the fight against corruption, noting that President Weah has given “teeth to bite” to all anti-graft institutions in the country, including the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission and the General Auditing Commission.
Foreign Minister Kemayah further stressed that: “Public service is for public good. The public sector is absolutely not the place to come look for money. The public sector is certainly a place for service; loyalty to country.”
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Kemayah reaffirmed the Government of Liberia’s intent to open a Career Consulate in the U.S. State of Minnesota to ensure that Liberians in Minnesota and the Midwest get the much needed opportunity to access affordable consular services at such Career Consulate-General when opened.
He further informed the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs that Liberia requested approval from the Government of the United States, and awaiting said approval.
Ambassador Kemayah referred to as the “Ongoing Uncompromising Reform Process at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia initiated by him when he assumed Office as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Dean of the Cabinet on October 6, 2020; including, but not limited to the Twenty Percent – 20% reduction in the prices of Liberian Passports across the board, strengthening the acquisition and Administrative Procedures for issuing Passports, establishment and launching of 25 new Passport Application Centers in VFS Global facilities in locations around the World where Liberians are concentrated, strengthening the Financial Management System, and check and balance at the Home Office of the Ministry, and especially, in Liberia’s Foreign Service, the Launch in February 2023 of the Revised Honorary Consul Regulations to guide the recruitment/appointment process, conduct and the nature and scope of the operation of Honorary Consuls of Liberia around the World.
Foreign Minister Kemayah said under the recently launched Revised Honorary Consul Regulations, it is mandatory that all Honorary Consul Generals be properly vetted, in accordance with international standards, protocols and best practice.
He reaffirmed Liberia’s support for the candidature of the United States, represented by Madam Amy E. Pope for the position of Director-General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) at its elections in Geneva later this year.
Foreign Minister Kemayah welcomed the information and desire of American private companies to directly invest in Liberia; asserting, “When His Excellency, President Dr. Weah assumed the leadership of the Republic of Liberia on January 22, 2018, in his Inaugural Address, he informed Liberia and the world that Liberia was open and ready for business.”
The Foreign Minister expressed that President Weah invited foreign direct investors to come and invest in Liberia, noting that the President continues to express Liberia’s openness and preparedness for foreign direct investments and for business in general.
The Foreign Minister recounted a number of initiatives and achievements of Liberia’s Feminist-In-Chief – President Weah for the actualization of his vision for women empowerment and political participation.
Commenting on the United States Office of Foreign Missions Diplomatic note of August 2, 2021, which explains the policy of limiting accreditation of individuals assigned to a Foreign Mission in the United States not to exceed 60 months, which is five years, and the March 16, 2023 Diplomatic Note from the Government of the United States, reminding the Government of Liberia of the aforementioned five-year maximum limit, Foreign Minister Kemayah acknowledged that Liberia has not been adhering to this maximum limit regulation, that the Government of Liberia remains committed to fully complying with this regulation, and all other host country’s regulations and laws, in line with diplomatic norms and protocols.
Assistant Secretary of State Phee welcomed Minister Kemayah and delegation to the U. S. Department of State, informing that it was a pleasure and opportunity to receive Ambassador Kemayah, and to meet on further strengthening the longstanding bilateral and traditional ties subsisting between the United States and Liberia.
Phee promised to follow-up on the request of the Government of Liberia for approval to open a Career Consulate General in Minnesota and expressed commendation for Liberia’s support for the candidacy of Madam Pope.
She praised Liberia’s efforts and role along with ECOWAS and the Mano Riveggvr Union, aimed at restoring constitutional order and democracy in Mali and Burkina Faso, and particularly, in the Republic of Guinea, and for the reform initiatives being undertaken at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; including, but not limited to the recently launched Revised Honorary Consul Regulations.
The U.S. Assistant Secretary of State thanked the Government of Liberia for the many initiatives recounted by Foreign Minister Kemayah, aimed at improving governance in the country and promised the support of the United States Government.
The Assistant Secretary of state said the United States appreciates Liberia’s push for a Non-Permanent Member Seat on the United Nations Security Council for the period; 2026/2027, and for a “Category A” Status at the International Maritime Organization.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Phee also emphasized United States support for Liberia’s programs on anti-corruption as she urged the Government to do more to ensure that the programs are “enhanced and promoted.”
Madam Phee commended Liberia for the efforts and gains being made in abolishing Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in some parts of Liberia; stressing that it was a major achievement by Liberia to have recently witnessed the banning of FGM in Montserrado County by the Traditional Leaders of Liberia.
She urged the country through its Government and traditional leaders to continue with such endeavor in other parts of Liberia where FGM is also being practiced.
The United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs informed Minister Kemayah of the interest of some private companies of the United States of America to invest in Liberia in sectors of interest to their Companies; including, but not limited to the Railway/Transport Sector.
Madam Phee stressed that the interest of these American companies to invest in Liberia is in line with the Investment and Trade Initiative of the United States for Africa, which was discussed between the United States and Africa, and announced by President Biden at the United States-Africa Leaders’ Summit held in December last year.
United States Assistant Secretary of State Molly Phee and Minister Kemayah concluded by further acknowledging the strong bond of bilateral traditional relations and friendship subsisting between the two countries.
