By: Julius Konton
Saudi Arabia’s development financing institutions have significantly expanded their engagement with Liberia, committing to a broad package of infrastructure, energy, sports, and regional integration projects aimed at accelerating economic growth, trade, and youth empowerment.
Liberia’s Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, disclosed that the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) has agreed in principle to finance a 6-kilometer road segment linking Zorzor to Yeala along the Guinea border, pending the completion of a feasibility study.
The road forms part of a wider northern corridor designed to improve cross-border trade between Liberia and its Mano River Union neighbors.
“This commitment complements earlier agreements to finance the Konia–Gbarnga corridor,” Minister Ngafuan said, describing the initiative as a critical boost to domestic commerce, agricultural supply chains, and regional connectivity.
Northern Corridor Road Network Gains Momentum
The Zorzor–Yeala segment is integrated into a broader multi-financier road development plan stretching from Gbarnga through Salayea, Zorzor, Voinjama, and onward to Mendicorma, near Liberia’s border with Guinea.
According to the Finance Minister:
Saudi and other Arab lenders are prepared to finance road construction up to Voinjama.
Financing for the Mendicorma–Voinjama stretch has been secured under the PAVIFORT agreement.
Kuwaiti funds are expected to cover segments between Salayea and Konia.
“We have mobilized financing for the entire Salayea–Mendicorma corridor,” Ngafuan emphasized. “Any delays will not be due to lack of money but rather technical processes such as procurement and design reviews.
We are working closely with the Ministry of Public Works to shorten timelines without compromising quality.”
The dedication of the first completed stretch from Gbarnga to Salayea is scheduled for April, coinciding with the expected visit of the Head of the Saudi Fund for Development, during which the second phase from Konia to Voinjama will be formally launched.
Major Power Transmission Project Backed by Saudi Financing
Beyond roads, Saudi Arabia has committed US$49.6 million toward the expansion of electricity transmission lines in northern Liberia.
The project, estimated to cost approximately US$100 million, will connect:
Botota (Bong County)
Gbarnga (Bong County)
Zorzor (Lofa County)
and include the construction of substation along the corridor.
The government is mobilizing additional financing to extend transmission further from Zorzor to Mendicorma, a move expected to significantly improve electricity access in Lofa County and surrounding areas.
Liberia currently has national electricity access of roughly 33%, a figure the government aims to raise to at least 75% within five years under its Liberia Energy Compact.
Sports Development: Liberia Eyes $30 Million Concessional Financing
Saudi engagement also extends into sports and youth development, aligning with President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr.’s emphasis on youth empowerment and recreation.
Minister Ngafuan confirmed that FIFA, in partnership with the Saudi government through the Saudi Fund for Development, has established a US$1 billion global facility for sports development in developing countries.
Liberia is expected to access approximately US$30 million in concessional financing not a grant.
Key options under consideration include:
Upgrading the Samuel Kanyon Doe (SKD) Sports Complex
Constructing a new national stadium
Developing regional mini-stadiums across the country
“These decisions will be taken collectively by the government, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Liberia Football Association,” Ngafuan said, noting that financing arrangements are already being finalized at the Ministry of Finance.
Aviation and Airport Infrastructure Back on the Table
Saudi officials also met with the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) to revisit outstanding commitments linked to the Roberts International Airport runway extension, originally funded during the administration of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in partnership with BADEA.
Approximately US$2.8 million in undisbursed funds remain under that project.
Discussions are ongoing to:
Secure the release of the remaining funds
Identify new aviation infrastructure priorities eligible for Saudi financing
ECOWAS Youth and Sports Center Relocated to Liberia
In a major regional development, Liberia is preparing to host the ECOWAS Youth and Sports Center, following the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS.
The center, previously located in Burkina Faso, will now be relocated to Congo Town, Monrovia, where it will be co-located with:
ECOWAS Radio
The ECOWAS Resident Representative’s Office
The facility is expected to be operational by mid-March, and the relocation of ECOWAS staff to Liberia is anticipated to generate positive economic spillovers for the country.
“This signals that Liberia is back,” Ngafuan said. “Major regional meetings are returning to Monrovia, and decision-makers across West Africa are engaging Liberia again.”
Economic Integration, Private Sector Support, and Growth Targets
Liberia is also positioned to assume leadership of the ECOWAS Economic Affairs and Agriculture portfolio in June, under the bloc’s rotational system.
Discussions are underway to mobilize ECOWAS funding to support the Liberian private sector, in line with broader regional integration goals.
The government’s development agenda includes:
Reducing multidimensional poverty from 45% to 35% by 2029
Expanding electricity access to 75%
Increasing paved road kilometers nationwide
Strengthening agriculture, education, and trade
Despite a US$1.2 billion national budget, external financing accounts for just 6%, one of the lowest ratios in Liberia’s recent history, a shift the government says reflects growing domestic revenue mobilization and renewed credibility with international partners.
“Development Is the Path to Unity”
Minister Ngafuan concluded by reaffirming the government’s core philosophy:
“To unite Liberia is to develop Liberia.
Development is the most effective way to reconcile and unite the country.”
As Saudi-backed projects move from commitment to implementation, Liberia’s leadership says the focus is now on execution, speed, and accountability turning ambitious plans into tangible outcomes for citizens across the country.
