Monrovia, Liberia, November 15, 2024: Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND), a grassroots civil society organization committed to advancing democracy, good governance, and accountability, of Mulbah K. Morlu, has expressed serious concerns over recent policy statements made by a Liberian government delegation to Russia, led by Deputy Minister for International Cooperation and Economic Integration, Dr. Ibrahim Nyei.

Speaking at the inaugural Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum in Sochi, Russia, Dr. Nyei conveyed Liberia’s intent to renew diplomatic relations with Russia, signaling a marked shift and significant reversal in the country’s foreign policy direction.

STAND in a release, stated that this unexpected diplomatic pivot raises serious questions about Liberia’s national security and economic future, considering the geopolitical implications of this critical foreign policy reversal and its impact on Liberia’s traditional alliances and protocols to which it holds ranking memberships.

STAND’s concerns stem from Liberia’s longstanding, vital relationship with the United States and its European partners—alliances that have brought billions of dollars in aid, as well as decades of substantial security and economic guarantees.

This surprising realignment toward Russia, a state with vested interests and growing influence in the African region, could introduce complexities that may prove dangerously unfavorable to Liberia in the long term.

Further heightening these concerns is Liberia’s strategic positioning in West Africa, which has historically been aligned with the United States for over a century. Shifting closer to Russia risks alienating a trusted ally whose support has been pivotal to the nation’s security and development. Such a move could unsettle Liberia’s position within the West African region, particularly amid recent democratic challenges and power struggles in the Sahel.

Moreover, the Liberian government’s emphasis on strengthening ties with Russia in areas such as security assistance raises additional red flags. Calls for Russian technical security aid come at a time when Russia’s involvement in the Sahel has been widely criticized for undermining democratic governance through support for military juntas. Seeking collaboration in this context risks Liberia’s complicity in fostering an influence that may destabilize governance structures across West Africa.

This policy shift is especially troubling given that Liberia had recently severed ties with Russia and taken a strong stance against its invasion of Ukraine. The sudden renewal of relations marks a drastic reversal, one that STAND believes requires immediate clarification regarding its impact on Liberia’s stability and economic health.

While STAND does not seek to oppose Liberia’s outreach to friendly nations for economic and peace-building assistance to support economic revival, STAND cautions the government to tread carefully in ways that avoid consequential national security risks or adverse economic impacts on the nation’s stability and democratic governance.

Accordingly, STAND calls on the Liberian government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to provide transparent details on its recent commitments in Russia, clarifying the strategic benefits of this new relationship and how it aligns with Liberia’s long-term security and economic goals.

On behalf of the Liberian people, STAND seeks assurances that these risky maneuvers do not create geopolitical challenges that threaten Liberia’s stability and democratic health, and cautions against Liberia becoming a proxy in global power rivalries.

Providing these assurances is especially important, considering that while the Russian Federation maintained a diplomatic presence in Liberia before the civil war—with its embassy formerly on 17th Street, Payne Avenue—and despite Liberia never formally cutting ties, as evidenced by the former Vice President’s visit to Russia in 2019, the truth remains that Russia has done little to uplift the lives of Liberians or contribute meaningfully to our socio-economic progress.

In light of this, STAND urges the government to prioritize Liberia’s peace, stability, and security interests, avoid entanglements in foreign conflicts, and uphold the nation’s best interests above any external agendas.

Finally, STAND is deeply troubled that the government of Liberia would overlook serious allegations of human rights violations and disregard for fundamental freedoms associated with Russia, opting instead to pursue a renewed alliance. This move appears to contradict Liberia’s longstanding relationship with the United States—a nation not without faults, yet committed to upholding democratic values and human rights. This sudden policy shift raises serious questions about Liberia’s dedication to these principles and underscores an urgent need for reflection and reconsideration of the government’s new direction.