DAVOS, Switzerland – Liberia’s Foreign Minister, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, has held talks with SpaceX founder Elon Musk on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, as Liberia intensifies efforts to position itself as an emerging destination for global investment. In her statement, the Foreign Minister credited President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s foreign policy vision for strengthening Liberia’s economic diplomacy. “Thanks to SpaceX and Afreximbank for speaking in support of Liberia at our Davos roundtable event. Speaking during a meeting at the Davos forum, the SpaceX official praised Minister Nyanti’s leadership and hands-on role in facilitating the licensing process. According to Piah, Liberia’s participation was achieved at no cost to the government, apart from officials’ travel expenses.

Saudi Arabia will host the World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Collaboration and Growth Meeting: Building Common Ground and Reviving Growth in Jeddah on 22-23 April 2026, it was announced on the closing day of the 56th Annual Meeting of the Forum in Davos, Switzerland. His Excellency Faisal F. Alibrahim, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Economy and Planning today confirmed the details for the regular high-level WEF meeting, which was announced at the 2025 WEF Annual Meeting. Calling for pragmatism and collaboration against a backdrop of geopolitical fragmentation, HE Alibrahim said “stability can’t be quickly built, and it can’t be bought”. HE Alibrahim stressed the need for continual dialogue in reviving global growth: “No single convening, no matter how well intentioned, will resolve every global challenge. The Kingdom continues to bring together perspectives from developed and developing economies to co-author growth and address shared global challenges.

James T. BrooksDavos, Switzerland — January 2026 — Liberia is pitching itself to the world not as a post-conflict nation in need of sympathy, but as a credible partner whose economic growth can strengthen global peace and security. Urging a fundamental rethink of how the international community engages with the country, Minister Nyanti framed economic cooperation as a practical tool for long-term stability. Minister Nyanti argued that modern economic diplomacy now extends far beyond traditional trade missions. It encompasses job creation, institutional strengthening, climate resilience, and regional stability—factors she described as inseparable from national and international security. The session concluded with candid engagement among global leaders, reflecting a growing recognition that economic diplomacy, when applied strategically, serves as a powerful force for peace.

KAKATA, Margibi County — Barely hours after FrontPage Africa published an investigative report exposing years of neglect and decay at the Booker Washington Institute (BWI), the institution’s administration has begun clearing overgrown grass that had engulfed large portions of the campus. Founded in 1929 as the Booker Washington Agricultural and Industrial Institute, BWI was Liberia’s first agricultural and vocational school, established with assistance from American partners and named after renowned U.S. educator Booker T. Washington. “Yesterday, I had the opportunity to visit the campus of Booker Washington Institute, and I was deeply saddened by the level of decay across the campus,” Kolliegbo said. While stopping short of blaming the current administration, he stressed that the condition reflects years of neglect by successive leaderships. Administration SilentEfforts by FrontPageAfrica to obtain a response from Dr. Nancy T. Freeman, Principal of the Booker Washington Institute, were unsuccessful.

James T. BrooksMonrovia, Liberia — January 2026 — New data released by the Liberia National Police reveals a grim toll on the nation’s highways, with at least 236 people killed in road crashes over the past year. According to police statistics, Liberia recorded a total of 1,564 road traffic accidents in 2025, leaving 992 people injured in addition to the fatalities. The Minister attributed this gap largely to the high number of men operating commercial motorcycles and tricycles. Minister Piah also expressed deep concern over a rising trend in hit-and-run incidents, particularly during late-night and early-morning hours. The Minister urged motorists, commercial tricycle operators, and motorcyclists to obey traffic laws and drive responsibly, concluding that reducing road deaths will require a combination of rigorous law enforcement and a fundamental shift in public discipline.

Monrovia, Liberia – January 2026 – The European Union (EU) and the Government of Liberia are set to conduct a critical follow-up technical mission from January 26–29, 2026, to oversee progress under the €42 million Light Up South East (LUSE) Program. The upcoming mission is a direct response to a previous inspection that identified several compliance and implementation challenges across LUSE-supported energy infrastructure projects. Throughout the four-day mission, the technical team will execute a comprehensive review of distribution and transmission infrastructure. She highlighted the LUSE Program as a flagship investment designed to drive inclusive development and economic growth in underserved areas. About the LUSE ProgramThe Light Up South East (LUSE) Program is a €42 million initiative funded entirely by European Union grants.

His Excellency Majid A. Alkassabi, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Commerce, today at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos said the Kingdom stands to benefit from ongoing shifts in global supply chains. Speaking in a session titled ‘Many Shapes of Trade’, HE commented: “Trade today is definitely shifting from fair trade to a managed and rule-driven trade model. For us in Saudi Arabia, we have a strategic location, we have a lot of resources, we could become a bridge economy. This is a lot, and this is very encouraging for Saudi Arabia – for its hotel operators, investors, technology providers. Additionally, Amplifai Health was announced as a winner of the second cohort of WEF’s MINDS – AI Global Alliance initiative.

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