• Turkey plans to open embassy in Liberia, boosting bilateral ties
• Move includes Turkish Airlines flights, airport modernization support
• Trade fell to $35 million in 2023 despite expanding cooperation

Turkey has confirmed plans to open an embassy in Monrovia, marking a new phase in its ties with Liberia.

The announcement followed a meeting on Monday, March 23, between Liberia’s Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti and a Turkish delegation led by Mustafa Kemel Basa, deputy director general for administrative and financial affairs at Turkey’s foreign ministry.

Speaking on behalf of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Nyanti stressed the need to deepen bilateral ties and expand economic cooperation.

The move builds on talks held in 2025 with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, during which he pledged support for the modernization of Roberts International Airport in Monrovia.

Turkey plans to open the embassy alongside the launch of Turkish Airlines flights, aiming to strengthen its economic and diplomatic footprint, attract investment and support the expansion of Turkish firms in key sectors.

Talks also focused on the Mano River Union basin, which Liberia aims to develop into a hub for cross-border trade and regional connectivity through proactive economic diplomacy.

Turkey also reiterated its support for human capital development in Liberia, notably through scholarships for students. Diplomatic reciprocity was discussed, with Ankara encouraging Monrovia to open an embassy in Ankara and a consulate in Istanbul.

The move comes as Turkey steps up its presence in Africa, expanding its diplomatic network and economic partnerships across the continent in recent years.

Relations between the two countries have so far been managed through non-resident missions. Turkey’s embassy in Accra has covered Liberia since 2013, while Liberia’s embassy in Brussels represents its interests in Turkey.

Diplomatic contacts have gradually intensified, including a visit to Turkey in May 2014 by then-Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Nagfuan, which led to agreements on education and visa facilitation for diplomatic passport holders.

Cooperation was further strengthened by a visit to Monrovia in July 2018 by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, who met his counterpart Marjon Kamara as well as former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and current President Joseph Boakai.

Bilateral trade has declined sharply, falling from $191.9 million in 2019 to about $35.3 million in 2023. However, Turkey continues to support Liberia through development programs led by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency across multiple sectors.

Carelle Yourann