Boakai to Chair UN Security Council in December

By Lincoln G. Peters

Liberian Senate, Capitol Hill, June 11, 2026: After sixty-five years (65), Liberia’s President, Joseph N. Boakai, is expected to chair the United Nations Security Council, following Liberia’s assumption of the United Nations Presidency.

In December 2026, Liberia will chair the United Nations Security Council. This milestone comes after 65 years, as the country last held a seat on the council in 1961 and began its current two-year non-permanent term on January 1, 2026.

The presidency of the Security Council rotates monthly among its 15 members in English alphabetical order.

Making the disclosure on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, to journalists on the grounds of the Capitol Building, following an hour-long briefing with Vice President Jeremiah K. Koung and members of the Cabinet regarding Liberia’s progress and challenges on the United Nations Security Council, Liberia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Madam Sarah Beysolow Nyanti, announced that Liberia will hold the presidency of the United Nations Security Council in December 2026.

“Liberia will hold the presidency of the United Nations Security Council in December 2026. President Joseph N. Boakai will chair high-level events. Also, in September 2026, we have several events on our Security Council priority list. The discussion with Vice President Jeremiah K. Koung was focused on how to plan for the presidency and set our priorities,” she stated.

Discussing the significance of Liberia chairing the United Nations Security Council, Madam Nyanti said it is a proud and important moment for the country, but the government must define its priorities.

” We are looking at some options, but we can’t go further,” she concluded. Early Wednesday morning, members of President Joseph N. Boakai’s cabinet—including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Liberia Environmental Protection Agency, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Minister of State, and National Defense, among others—concluded a high-level meeting in the conference room of VP Koung.

The meeting was intended for Foreign Affairs Minister Nyanti to provide updates on Liberia’s progress, challenges, and future on the United Nations Security Council as a non-permanent member.

In his opening remarks, Vice President Jeremiah K. Koung expressed gratitude to God for sustaining their lives and praised his colleagues for attending the meeting, adding that the Foreign Minister was the center of attention.

According to him, since Liberia became a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, it is important that the country reviews its progress, challenges, and future in the role, and ensures that the government provides support where needed as soon as possible.

“We are here to receive updates regarding our progress and challenges on the United Nations Security Council. We have been on the Council for five months. It is good for the Minister of Foreign Affairs to bring us up to speed. With this, we will know the challenges, successes, and progress. Where there are challenges, we can step in and provide assistance,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, following the Vice President’s opening statement, the entire cabinet went into a closed-door meeting, where the Vice President and other cabinet members were briefed by Foreign Minister Nyanti on Liberia’s progress, challenges, and future on the United Nations Security Council.