Liberia: 'Stop Following America' - Sirleaf Urges Liberians

What the report says

Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf called on Liberians to rely less on the United States for policy direction and to develop solutions rooted in the country’s own priorities, according to The New Dawn, distributed by AllAfrica. Her comments were made in Monrovia on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, after she attended a one-day Governance Commission symposium on good governance, accountability and transparency.

Sirleaf’s remarks framed Liberia’s future around greater national ownership of development and governance decisions. She argued that the country should move beyond old habits of dependence and adapt its institutions and strategies to local conditions. The article says she did not urge Liberia to end ties with Washington, but rather to engage international partners without allowing outside actors to shape domestic policy.

The statement is notable because Sirleaf led Liberia from 2006 to 2018 and oversaw a period in which the United States was one of the country’s most important diplomatic and development partners. The report provides background that includes U.S. support during post-war reconstruction, debt relief, health and security assistance, and emergency help during the Ebola crisis. Her latest message, the article says, puts renewed attention on the balance between international partnership and self-reliance in a country still working to strengthen institutions and shape its recovery.