Liberia Seeks Burkina Faso’s Support for UN Security Council Bid Amid Shifting West African Alliances

Liberia has officially sought Burkina Faso’s support for its bid for the United Nations Security Council seat. The request was made during a high-profile meeting on Friday between Burkina Faso’s leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, and Liberia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, who visited as a special envoy of President Joseph Boakai.

Ms. Nyanti conveyed President Boakai’s greetings and formally requested Burkina Faso’s backing for Liberia’s candidacy. Discussions also touched on strengthening bilateral cooperation and enhancing African-led investments to counter the dominance of foreign capital on the continent.

We were given a very attentive hearing, and the President of Faso was very open and willing to support us, Ms. Nyanti stated after the meeting.

Liberia’s diplomatic outreach comes at a time of significant geopolitical shifts in West Africa. Burkina Faso, along with Mali and Niger, recently officially withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), citing the regional bloc’s failure to support their sovereignty and security needs.

The three Sahelian nations have been charting an independent course, raising questions about the future of regional alliances. Against this backdrop, Liberia’s engagement with Burkina Faso could be seen as an effort to maintain diplomatic ties with a country redefining its international alignments.

While ECOWAS withdrawal signals a growing rift between these nations and the regional bloc, Liberia—still a key ECOWAS member—is looking to secure Burkina Faso’s backing for its ambitions on the global stage. Beyond the UN candidacy, the two countries discussed ways to foster stronger economic cooperation, particularly in promoting African investments within the continent.

About The Author

Oluwasegun Sanusi

author

See author's posts