Ahead Of High-Level Delegation Visit
PHOTO: Pres. Joseph Boakai’s private jet
Press Release from Liberia’s Foreign Ministry
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monrovia, Wednesday, June 4, 2025: In fulfillment of a commitment made by the President of the Republic of Türkiye, H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Turkish Government through the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure has dispatched an emergency accident response team to Roberts International Airport (RIA) in Liberia. The team, led by Mr. Altan Yasar Tekin, has been sent to investigate the unfortunate incident that occurred on May 29, 2025 at RIA.
This swift intervention underscores Türkiye’s dedication to strengthening bilateral ties and supporting critical infrastructure development in Liberia. The deployment precedes a scheduled visit by a high-level, seven-member Turkish delegation, set for June 10-13, 2025. The delegation will conduct a comprehensive assessment of RIA’s operational capacity.
The delegation is composed of the following experts: Mr. Levent Şenel, Deputy Head of Mission, Turkish Embassy in Accra; Mr. Süleyman Yılmaz, Civil Engineer; Mr. Bilal Özçelik, Civil Engineer; Mr. Alper Uzun, Air Traffic Controller; Mr. Mert Kayış, Electrical Engineer; Mr. Yavuz Boyuneğmez, Map Technician and Mr. Sefa Kartal, Engineer.
In April 2025, during a diplomatic engagement, Liberia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, formally conveyed to President Erdoğan the interest of H.E. President Joseph Nyuma Boakai in establishing a government-to-government (G2G) partnership to modernize Liberia’s primary international gateway.
President Erdoğan responded positively, committing Türkiye’s technical and financial support to upgrade the airport to international standards and contribute to Liberia’s broader economic development agenda.
Speaking to the media, Türkiye’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, H.E. Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, confirmed the upcoming visit and reaffirmed Türkiye’s readiness to assist Liberia in enhancing RIA’s safety protocols, infrastructure, and operational systems.
“The delegation will assess current conditions and identify areas in need of urgent and long-term support. Today’s emergency deployment marks the beginning of a deeper, strategic partnership,” Minister Uraloğlu stated.
This initiative is part of a broader economic diplomacy strategy led by Foreign Minister Nyanti, who is actively engaging international partners to attract foreign direct investment, create jobs, and drive national development through robust infrastructure projects.
The Government of Türkiye remains firmly committed to supporting Liberia’s vision for a modern, efficient aviation sector and looks forward to advancing bilateral cooperation in the coming months.