By: Kabinah S. Kaba
Rome, Italy – The Government of Liberia, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), officially inaugurated the Liberia Situation Room—a state-of-the-art coordination and engagement facility—at FAO Headquarters in Rome.
The launch, held during the 44th Session of the FAO Conference, marks a historic milestone in Liberia’s commitment to international cooperation and global food security. For the first time in over four decades, Liberia now has a physical and strategic presence at the heart of global agricultural governance.
Representing Liberia at the event were Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah, Minister of Agriculture, and Hon. Antoinette F. Dukuly, Deputy Minister for Administration.
In his remarks, FAO Director-General Dr. Qu Dongyu celebrated the achievement and praised President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s vision and leadership:
“The President of Liberia came here in 1981 as Minister of Agriculture. Now, as President, he realized that Liberia had no physical presence at FAO Headquarters after 44 years… I should congratulate Liberia—you made a good choice.”
“In 20 years, Liberia can do better than China, if the right investments are made,” Dr. Qu added.
Minister Nuetah highlighted that the establishment of the Situation Room is the direct result of a mandate from President Boakai, issued in October 2024:
“When the President returned to FAO in 2024, he said, ‘I do not see Liberia’s presence here.’ Today, I am proud to report that this mandate has become a reality.”
The Liberia Situation Room is designed to:
- Enable real-time coordination with FAO,
- Support strategic decision-making,
- Strengthen food systems and emergency response, and
- Reinforce Liberia’s role in global agricultural governance.
As the Ministry of Agriculture charts a bold new path, it is also calling for an expanded FAO presence within Liberia to support national priorities and scale up impact.
This facility is more than just a physical space—it is a symbol of Liberia’s renewed global engagement and its growing ambition to transform agriculture and food systems for future generations.
