By: Julius Konton
Liberia has officially declared its candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the African Union Peace and Security Council (AU PSC), seeking to represent West Africa for the 2026–2028 term, in a move that underscores the country’s growing diplomatic ambitions and renewed continental influence.
The announcement was made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ahead of elections scheduled for 11–12 February 2026, during the 48th Ordinary Session of the African Union Executive Council in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The AU Peace and Security Council, Africa’s principal decision-making body on conflict prevention, management, and resolution, plays a critical role in responding to instability across a continent that currently accounts for over 40 percent of global conflict-related deaths, according to recent international security assessments.
A Strategic Moment for Liberia and Africa
Liberia’s bid comes at a pivotal diplomatic moment, as the country have already begun playing its active role as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)
If successful, Liberia would be among the few African nations simultaneously represented on both the AU PSC and the UNSC, a dual role that offers rare strategic leverage.
Diplomats say the overlap would strengthen coordination between the AU PSC and the African members of the UNSC (A3), helping to align African positions on crises ranging from the Sahel insurgencies to political instability in parts of Central and Eastern Africa.
“This convergence provides an opportunity to elevate African-led solutions to African problems within global decision-making spaces,” a senior regional analyst noted.
A Record Rooted in Peacekeeping and Multilateralism
Over the last two decades, Liberia has steadily rebuilt its international standing following its civil wars (1989–2003), which claimed an estimated 250,000 lives and displaced nearly half of the population.
Since then, the country has transitioned from peacekeeping recipient to peacekeeping contributor.
Liberia has deployed security personnel and civilian experts to United Nations and African Union missions across Africa, including in Mali, Sudan, and South Sudan, while remaining active in ECOWAS-led regional security initiatives.
Liberia’s diplomatic footprint has also expanded through sustained engagement in multilateral forums, where it has consistently advocated for preventive diplomacy, post-conflict reconstruction, and democratic governance.
Lessons from Post-Conflict Recovery
Liberia’s candidacy is strongly anchored in its domestic experience of post-war recovery and peacebuilding.
Following the departure of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) in 2018, one of the UN’s largest peacekeeping operations, which at its peak deployed over 15,000 troops and police, Liberia undertook a nationally led transition toward sustainable peace.
Key elements of this process included:
Early warning and conflict-prevention mechanisms at national and community levels
Transitional justice and reconciliation initiatives, including the Truth and Reconciliation Commission framework
Strengthening democratic institutions, with multiple peaceful elections and transfers of power
A growing civil society and independent media sector, central to accountability and social cohesion
These experiences, Liberian officials argue, provide practical insights relevant to countries currently navigating post-conflict transitions across the continent.
What Liberia Brings to the AU Peace and Security Council
If elected, Liberia says it will prioritize:
Preventive diplomacy and early response to emerging conflicts
Strengthening AU-UN cooperation on peace operations
Supporting post-conflict reconstruction and institutional reform
Promoting inclusive peace processes that prioritize women and youth
Reinforcing African solidarity and collective security frameworks
At a time when Africa faces more than 20 active conflicts, rising unconstitutional changes of government, and growing threats from violent extremism, Liberia’s government believes its voice can contribute meaningfully to pragmatic and experience-based decision-making.
A Call for Continental Support
In its formal appeal, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on fellow African Union member states to support Liberia’s candidacy, emphasizing the country’s commitment to integrity, collaboration, and African unity.
“Liberia’s journey from conflict to stability reflects the very ideals the Peace and Security Council seeks to promote,” the ministry said, adding that the country stands ready to serve not only national interests, but the collective aspirations of Africa.
Liberia’s bid, officials insist, is both a reflection of its national transformation and a reaffirmation of its dedication to Africa’s long-term vision of peace, stability, and shared prosperity.
