By Bill W. Cooper
The newly confirmed United States Ambassador to Liberia, Mark Christopher Toner, is expected to arrive Monrovia August to begin his official duty as Ambassador representing the US in the country.
According to information gathered, the new ambassador will be arriving in Liberia the first week in August of this year, following year of waiting due to his confirmation hearing and subsequent commissioning ceremony by President Biden.
Toner’s appointment and arrival into Liberia, according to our source comes at a crucial time for the country as it continues to grapple with political, economic and other challenges. He replaces former ambassador, Michael McCarthy.
It can be recalled that Ambassador Toner was appointed by US President, Joe Biden Administration in 2023 as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Liberia.
He vowed during his confirmation hearing to buttress government’s efforts in the fight against corruption.
However, former Amb. McCarthy is being remembered by Liberians for his strong stance against corruption and his unapologetic criticisms of ills in the Liberian governance system during his stayed in Liberia.
During his tenure, the government of former President George Weah was hard hit with seven U.S. Sanctions under the Magnitsky Act affecting three officials (now ex-officials) four Senators currently working in the Joseph Boakai administration.
Those sanctioned are former finance Minister, Samuel Tweah, former Solicitor General, Saymah Serena Cyphas, former Monrovia City Mayor, Jefferson Koijee and former Minister of State, now Margibi County Senator, Nathaniel McGill.
Others are former National Port Authority (NPA) managing director, now Rivercess County Senator, Bill Tweahway; former Senate Pro-tempore and now Grand Kru County Senator, Albert Chie and Margibi County Senator, J. Emmanuel Nuquay.
But the government of former President Weah at the time constantly termed these sanctions against those officials as maneuverings of the members of the opposition bloc precisely the Unity Party (UP) that is now the country’s ruling party.
Amb. Toner is coming at the time that the current administration is still facing several challenges ranging from corruption, economic, infrastructure among others despite some efforts being made so far.
Some gains made by this government is their fight against corruption which saw President Boakai and his Vice President, Jeremiah Koung declaring and publishing of their access, the ongoing roads maintenance and the setting-up of the office of the World and Economic Crimes Court to hold perpetrators of war and economic crimes accountable.
Mark Christopher Toner, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, currently serves as the Minister Counselor for Public Diplomacy at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, France. Previously, Toner was a Senior Advisor at the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe and a Senior Faculty Advisor at the National Defense University.
Earlier, Toner held positions as the State Department’s Deputy Spokesperson, Acting Spokesperson, and as a Deputy Assistant Secretary in the State Department’s Bureau of European Affairs.
He has also served as the Director of Press Operations in the Bureau of Public Affairs and Director of Press and Public Affairs in the Bureau of European Affairs and was also Spokesperson at the U.S. Mission to NATO in Brussels, Belgium.
Prior to joining the State Department, Toner served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Liberia, West Africa. He earned his Bachelor’s from the University of Notre Dame and his Master’s from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, D.C., and he speaks French and Polish.
Meanwhile, Liberia, a country with a rich history and a diverse cultural heritage, has faced significant challenges in recent years. The country is still recovering from a devastating civil war that lasted from 1989 to 2003, which left thousands dead and displaced millions of people.
Since the end of the war, Liberia has made significant progress in rebuilding its infrastructure and institutions, but it continues to face challenges in areas such as corruption, poverty, and political instability.
The new US ambassador is expected to play a key role in supporting Liberia’s efforts to address these challenges and promote sustainable developmen because the US has been a key partner for Liberia in its post-war reconstruction efforts, providing financial assistance, technical support, and diplomatic engagement.
Also, the incoming ambassador Toner will have a challenging task ahead, as Liberia faces a number of pressing issues that require urgent attention and one of the key priorities for the new ambassador will be to support Liberia’s efforts to strengthen its democratic institutions and promote good governance.
Another important issue that the new ambassador will need to address is the country’s economic development owing to the fact that Liberia is one of the poorest countries in the world, with high levels of poverty and unemployment.
In addition to these challenges, the new ambassador will also need to navigate the complex political landscape in Liberia on grounds that the country has a history of political instability, with frequent changes in government and occasional outbreaks of violence.
Despite these challenges, there are reasons for optimism about Liberia’s future because Liberia has a young and dynamic population, a vibrant civil society, and a rich cultural heritage and with the support of the international community, including the US, Liberia has the potential to overcome its challenges and build a more prosperous and peaceful future.
As the new ambassador prepares to take up his post in August, all eyes will be on him to work closely with this current administration to address the pressing challenges facing Liberia and help the country realize its full potential.
