A Liberian identified as “Son of the African Soil” (pen name) has written President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to maintain principled neutrality and vigilance against geopolitical entanglements with escalating tensions in West Africa, particularly between Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire, and the broader implications for Liberia’s sovereignty, peace, and development.
In a letter addressed to the president dated April 30, 2025, the writer said the current standoff, fueled by allegations of Ivorian support for insurgents in Burkina Faso, is not an isolated dispute but a symptom of a far more dangerous struggle—one in which global powers are vying for dominance over Africa’s political and economic future.
The letter noted that this confrontation is particularly perilous because it mirrors Liberia’s historical trauma in which global powers once used it as a pawn during the Cold War; similarly, they now seek to exploit regional divisions to maintain control over Africa’s resources and political trajectory.
“Burkina Faso’s insistence on reclaiming its sovereignty—particularly over its vast mineral wealth—has made it a target for destabilization. Meanwhile, the U.S. has intensified its military engagement in West Africa under the guise of counterterrorism, while its true objective appears to be containing Russian and Chinese influence. AFRICOM’s growing presence in the region, including its efforts to establish logistical bases in Liberia, signals that our country is being positioned as a frontline in this new struggle for hegemony,” the letter stated.
Son of the African Soil said the danger for Liberia lies in its unique vulnerability to external pressure, adding that historical ties to the United States, coupled with an underdeveloped economy and fragile post-war institutions, make Liberia susceptible to coercion disguised as “partnership.”
“Already, we are seeing alarming parallels to the past: just as Liberia was once used as a strategic outpost during World War II and the Cold War, we are now being courted to serve as a staging ground for American military operations. Yet history has shown that such alliances bring neither security nor prosperity—only exploitation and ruin. When Burkina Faso expelled French forces, it did so because decades of French military presence had brought neither stability nor development, only continued pillaging of its resources. Liberia must ask itself: if even France’s former colonies are rejecting this model, why should we embrace a new iteration of the same exploitation under American leadership?” He said.
The Liberian writer said the nation cannot afford to repeat past mistakes, especially when the stakes involve not just its sovereignty but the very survival of the people, saying that if Liberia allows itself to be drawn into this geopolitical contest, “We risk becoming both a weapon against our African brothers and a target for retaliation. The U.S. has already demonstrated in Libya, Mali, and elsewhere that its interventions create long-term chaos rather than stability. Should we permit AFRICOM to operate freely from our soil, we may face blowback in the form of armed rebellions, economic sabotage, or diplomatic isolation from nations resisting Western domination. Moreover, by aligning with one side in this new Cold War, we would betray the principles of African unity and self-determination that Liberia has long championed. Our nation’s survival depends on recognizing these dangers and charting an independent course—one that prioritizes Liberia’s sovereignty over the interests of foreign powers.”
The Son of the African Soil indicated that the time has come for Liberia to take a bold and unambiguous stance against becoming entangled in this new era of great-power competition, as the nation’s tragic past—marked by civil war, economic exploitation, and political manipulation—must serve as a lesson rather than a recurring nightmare.
He stated that if Liberia allows itself to be used as a pawn in the U.S.’s confrontation with Russia and China, the country will inevitably face retaliation, economic isolation, or even another violent conflict, while informing the president that his leadership is critical in this moment, urging him declare, without hesitation, that Liberia will not be a staging ground for foreign military ambitions, nor will it sacrifice stability for the geopolitical interests of others.
“The path forward demands vigilance, sovereignty, and an unshakable commitment to peace—for Liberia and for Africa as a whole,” he said.
