By: Joeraisee I. P Joe
Roberts International Airport, Margibi County-July 11, 2026
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has defended the significance of his official visit to the Republic of Türkiye, saying the trip has opened new opportunities for cooperation in investment, education, and diplomatic relations while also expressing optimism that tensions between the Executive and the Legislature are easing.
Speaking to journalists upon his arrival at Roberts International Airport on Saturday after concluding his official engagements in Türkiye, President Boakai said Liberia and Türkiye are exploring several new areas of collaboration, including investment, scholarship opportunities for Liberian students, and the expansion of diplomatic representation between the two countries.
Addressing concerns over the relationship between the Executive Branch and the Legislature, President Boakai acknowledged the challenges but maintained that both branches are making progress.
“It’s taking long. We’re learning to work with each other. We’re trying to do it, and I think the relationship is cooling down,” the President said.
Responding to critics who questioned the value of his visit to Türkiye and suggested it served personal interests rather than national priorities, President Boakai declined to engage the criticism, simply stating, “I’ll leave it with them.”
The President returned from a five-day working visit to Türkiye, where he held bilateral talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and met with business leaders to promote investment opportunities and strengthen diplomatic and economic cooperation between the two countries.