This article outlines diplomatic relations between India and Liberia: India's resident presence in Monrovia, visits by leaders and ministers in both directions, the dialogue mechanisms and agreements between the two governments, and Liberia's participation in initiatives launched by India. It is based on the MEA brief of July 2026, and office holders are named as the brief names them.

Political relations

According to the MEA brief of July 2026, India and Liberia share long-standing friendly relations, and Liberia has supported India's candidature at various United Nations fora. The Government of India opened a resident Mission in the capital, Monrovia, in May 2021. Before that, the Ambassador of India to Cote d'Ivoire, resident in Abidjan, was concurrently accredited to Liberia.

The brief states that the opening of the Mission generated a lot of goodwill and scope for strengthening the existing relations. Mr. Joseph Nyumah Boakai, Sr. assumed office as the 26th President of Liberia on 22 January 2024, succeeding Dr. George Manneh Weah. Former President Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was conferred the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for the year 2012.

The brief records Liberia's participation in several initiatives in which India is involved:

  • Liberia joined the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) with the ratification or approval of the Framework Agreement on the Establishment of IBCA on 8 January 2025.
  • Liberia has signed the Framework Agreement of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), and ratification by the Liberian Parliament is underway.
  • Liberia became a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council on 1st January 2026, for the year 2026-2027.

Visits by Liberian leaders

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf paid a State visit to India in September 2013, when four Agreements/MoUs were signed:

  • Agreement on Establishment of Joint Commission between India and Liberia
  • MoU between Foreign Service Institutes of India and Liberia
  • MoU on Cooperation in the field of Oil and Gas between India and Liberia
  • Agreement between EXIM Bank and Government of Liberia for a Line of Credit of US$ 144 million for funding a power transmission and distribution project in Liberia, which the brief notes was later cancelled at Liberia's request

President Sirleaf made her second visit to India in October 2015, leading a high-level delegation to the 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi. She held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 30 October 2015, and the Liberian Foreign Minister met the then EAM on 28 October 2015.

The present President, Mr. Joseph Nyuma Boakai, visited India in 2013 in his capacity as Vice President, leading the Liberian delegation to the 9th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave in New Delhi on 17-19 March 2013. Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung visited India for the 19th CII India Africa Business Conclave in New Delhi on 20-23 August 2024.

Other ministerial visits from Liberia

Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Gbehzohngar M. Findley visited India for the First International Solar Alliance Summit on 10-11 March 2018. More recently, a 3 member delegation led by Cllr. Jeddi Mowbray Armah, Deputy Minister for Legal Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visited India for the India-UN Consultations on 29-30 December 2025. Foreign Minister Mrs. Sara Beysolow Nyanti made an official visit to India on 13 August 2026 and held talks with External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar in New Delhi. Visits by Liberian ministers for sector events, such as business conclaves, energy, health and defence meetings, are covered in the trade and development articles of this guide.

Visits from India

The brief lists the following ministerial visits from India to Liberia:

  • Minister of State for External Affairs Dr. Shashi Tharoor visited Liberia on 16-19 September 2009, accompanied by a CII business delegation. It was the first visit by an Indian Foreign Minister since Sardar Swaran Singh's visit in 1971, and President Sirleaf described it as "a landmark visit".
  • Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Shri Vayalar Ravi visited Liberia in February 2010.
  • Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Shri G. M. Siddeshwara visited Monrovia on 10-11 September 2015 to hand over the Prime Minister's invitation for the 3rd India Africa Forum Summit to the Liberian President.
  • Minister of State for External Affairs Shri M. J. Akbar visited Liberia on 1-2 March 2018.

A 9-member All-Party Delegation led by Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Member of Parliament, visited Liberia from 31 May to 2 June 2025. The visit followed the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on 22 April 2025, in which 26 tourists were killed, and aimed to strengthen global consensus on zero tolerance for terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The delegation met the President, the Foreign Minister, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, among others.

Foreign Office Consultations

The first ever Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) between India and Liberia took place in Monrovia on 17 December 2024. It was co-chaired by Shri Sevala Naik Mude, Additional Secretary (C&WA), MEA, and Mrs. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Foreign Minister of Liberia.

According to the brief, the two sides reviewed the entire range of bilateral relations, including trade, investment, mining, agriculture, health and pharmaceuticals, education, capacity building and people to people exchanges. During the visit, Shri Mude also met the President, the Vice President and the Ministers of Health, Commerce & Industry, and Agriculture.