President Joseph N. Boakai has intensified efforts to attract greater U.S. investment and deepen economic cooperation with Liberia, holding high-level talks with U.S. Senator Angela D. Alsobrooks of Maryland focused on turning the Liberia–Maryland partnership into tangible development opportunities.
The meeting, held in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, September 15, formed part of President Boakai’s engagements with U.S. congressional leaders as his administration pushes for stronger international partnerships to advance Liberia’s development priorities.
Implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between Liberia and the State of Maryland, signed on June 24, 2026, establishing a formal sister-state relationship, was at the center of the discussions.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Liberia’s Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti signed the agreement, creating a framework for expanded cooperation in trade and investment, education, agriculture, technology, infrastructure, workforce development, tourism, public administration and cultural exchange.
President Boakai stressed that his administration wants the agreement to move beyond diplomatic commitments and deliver concrete benefits for Liberians, particularly through job creation, skills development, private-sector investment and expanded economic opportunities.
The Liberian leader also used the meeting to highlight his administration’s priorities, including democratic governance, peace and security, economic transformation, human-capital development and increased private-sector participation in the economy.
Discussions also explored opportunities to establish direct partnerships between Liberian institutions and their counterparts in Maryland, particularly in education, workforce training, agriculture, infrastructure and technology.
The two sides highlighted the longstanding historical and people-to-people ties between Liberia and Maryland, viewing those connections as a foundation for broader economic and institutional cooperation.
Maryland authorities described the June agreement as the first formal sister-state relationship between a U.S. state and Liberia. At the signing, Governor Moore said the framework was intended to transform historical ties into practical opportunities for cooperation and exchange.
Senator Alsobrooks, who represents Maryland in the U.S. Senate, welcomed the partnership and expressed support for its objectives as Liberia seeks stronger engagement with Maryland institutions and the private sector.
Alsobrooks was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2024 and maintains offices in Maryland and Washington, D.C., placing her in a key position in congressional engagement involving the state.
Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti; Minister Without Portfolio Hadja Mamaka Bility; National Security Advisor Samuel Kofi Woods; Director General of the Cabinet Nathaniel T. Kwabo; Liberia’s Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Al-Hassan Conteh; Executive Assistant to the President Morie Nemah; and other government officials accompanied President Boakai.
The meeting comes amid President Boakai’s series of engagements in the United States. He arrived in the country on September 14 ahead of the 81st United Nations General Assembly and was expected to hold discussions with congressional leaders to strengthen Liberia–U.S. relations.
For the Boakai administration, the Washington talks mark another effort to translate Liberia’s longstanding diplomatic relationship with the United States into investment, institutional partnerships, jobs and other development opportunities at home.
