By Bill W. Cooper
Foreign Minister-designate, Sarah Beysolow Nyanti, has observed that rebranding Liberia’s foreign policy would be a challenging task amidst the many challenges facing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).
Drawing from her wealth of experience at the United Nations (UN), Madam Nyanti expressed her firm determination to leverage her expertise in transforming the country’s foreign relations.
“Rebranding Liberia’s foreign Policy is a difficult task, but I promise to use my position to transform our country’s foreign policy like I did in other countries while working for the UN.
Because I come to the table not only with the qualifications needed for the job, but with the experience and suitability for the role,” she asserted.
Addressing the Senate’s Committee on Foreign Affairs yesterday, the nominee highlighted the significance of Liberia’s international standing and the pressing need to redefine its foreign policy to align with the changing times.
She emphasized that her over 20 years serving at the level of the UN have prepared her for the task ahead, offering a unique perspective on representing Liberia’s interests at an international level.
Madam Nyanti, born 1968, is an international development expert with more than 20 years of professional experience, as well as the UN Assistant Secretary General from December 2021 to her retirement in July 2023.
Besides working in senior positions at home in the past, Nyanti held senior positions in the Ministry of Health from 1999 to 2003, including her service as Director of the National AIDS Control Program.
She wrote the country’s first grant to the Global Fund for money to combat malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis, as well as worked for the UN in Liberia during the conflict and transitional government periods.
From 2005 to 2009, Nyanti worked for the UN in Nepal, before becoming UNICEF HIV/AIDS Advisor to the representatives in Namibia and Kenya in 2009, as well as head the UNICEF office in Lagos in 2015; and served as UNICEF Representative in The Gambia from 2015 to 2017, and in Yemen from 2019 to 2020.
Additionally, the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, appointed her as Deputy Special Representative, Resident Coordinator, and Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan in December 2021, succeeding Alain Noudehou of Benin, as the role is an Assistant Secretary General.
Madam Nyanti, who got defeated during the 2023 Presidential and Legislative elections, was nominated by President Joseph Boakai, who also contested the polls, subsequently emerging as the winner.
Giving her vision for the Ministry, the Foreign Minister-designate expressed her strong commitment to addressing these challenges, ranging from issuance of Liberian passport to foreign nationals to the sexual assault case involving former Foreign Minister Kemayah, among others.
According to her, she will forge alliances and partnerships with key international players by crafting a pragmatic and proactive approach.
She maintained, “When confirmed by this body, my team and I will prioritize diplomacy, utilizing our country’s unique strengths and resources to foster mutually beneficial relationships with neighboring countries, regional organizations, and global powers.”
“My vision is also centered on leveraging our country’s strategic location as a gateway to West Africa, to attract direct foreign investment and promote economic opportunities for Liberians.
And I am determined to uphold Liberia’s status as a responsible global citizen, effectively contributing to international peace and security, human rights, and sustainable development initiatives,” she assured.
Madam Nyanti further stressed the need to strengthen trade relations, and emphasized the potential as a hub for commerce and investment in West Africa.
Meanwhile, Madam Nyanti has also pledged to prioritize the empowerment of Liberian youthful population through education, skills development, and opportunities for engagement in international fora.
She stressed that the need for targeted investments in education and capacity building, to cultivate future leaders who could represent Liberia effectively on the global stage, can never be overemphasized.
