Liberia and the US state of Maryland sign historic partnership
On Wednesday, June 24, 2026, the Republic of Liberia and the U.S. state of Maryland signed a historic memorandum of understanding, making Liberia the first African country to sign a formal national partnership agreement with Maryland, a first in the history of the U.S. state.
The agreement was signed in the Governor's Reception Hall in Annapolis by Liberian Foreign Minister Sarah Beysolow Nyanti on behalf of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, and by Maryland Governor Wes Moore on behalf of the state, in the presence of Maryland Secretary of State Susan C. Lee and Liberia's Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Alhassan Conteh.
A broader framework for cooperation
The memorandum of understanding complements the partnership launched in 2007 between the U.S. state of Maryland and Bong and Maryland counties in Liberia, but it elevates it to a broader framework for cooperation at the national level.
The agreement establishes a new framework for strategic cooperation between the two sides in the areas of economic development, trade and investment, education, technology and innovation, agriculture, renewable energy, transportation, life sciences, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, climate change resilience, tourism, and cultural exchange.
The agreement also supports Liberia’s “ARREST” agenda for inclusive development, particularly the pillars of economic transformation, infrastructure development, and human capital development.
The Liberian Foreign Minister said the agreement represents more than just an official document, but rather confirms the depth of the historical ties between Liberia and Maryland, and reflects a shared commitment to building a future based on investment, innovation, education, cultural exchange and sustainable development that benefits the people of both sides.
The partnership is based on a history spanning nearly two centuries of relations between Liberia and Maryland, with ties dating back to the 1830s. Liberia's second president, Stephen Allen Benson, was born in Cambridge, Maryland.
An opportunity to strengthen relationships
Governor Wes Moore, the first African-American governor of Maryland, said the agreement represents an opportunity to strengthen relations with Liberia and open new horizons for economic growth, academic exchange, innovation, and deepening cultural understanding between the two sides.
The memorandum of understanding stipulates the establishment of a joint working group between Liberia and Maryland to follow up on the implementation of the agreement, identify priority projects, coordinate cooperation between institutions and companies, and oversee activities that achieve tangible results for both parties, while the Liberian embassy in Washington will be responsible for coordinating and following up on the implementation of the agreement.
The signing ceremony was attended by several members of the Maryland governor’s government, former state officials, and Sebastian Tecklar, president of the Liberian Association in the Washington, Maryland and Virginia regions, along with an official Liberian delegation that included several senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
