By: Joseph K. Sallie
Monrovia, Liberia – Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has rallied the global community to consolidate efforts aimed at ending the growing crisis of conflicts around the world.
Madam Sirleaf emphasized that the current trend of globalization requires a unified and collective approach to tackle conflicts and build a just and peaceful world.
She said the interconnected nature of today’s world means that instability in one region can quickly affect others, stressing the need for stronger multilateral action.
The former Liberian leader underscored that global leaders must focus their attention on addressing crises, particularly wars and violent conflicts, to ensure humanity’s safety. “The crisis in one region means the rest of the world is not safe,” Madam Sirleaf warned, urging governments, international organizations, and civil society actors to intensify their efforts toward sustainable peace.
Madam Sirleaf, Africa’s first democratically elected female president and a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, used her platform to call for renewed commitment to diplomacy, conflict prevention, and global solidarity. She highlighted the importance of dialogue and cooperation among nations to resolve disputes peacefully rather than through the use of force.
She also pointed to the devastating impact of modern conflicts on vulnerable populations, especially women and children, noting that war exacerbates poverty, undermines development, and forces millions into displacement. According to her, without decisive action, these crises will continue to fuel insecurity, economic instability, and humanitarian emergencies worldwide.
Madam Sirleaf further encouraged regional bodies such as the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the United Nations to play stronger roles in mediating conflicts and enforcing peace agreements.
She noted that while international interventions are often necessary, local ownership and community-based peacebuilding initiatives remain crucial for lasting stability.
In recent years, the former president has emerged as a prominent global voice for democratic governance and women’s leadership in peacebuilding.
Through her Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development, she has been advocating inclusive leadership and policies that address the root causes of conflict, including inequality and bad governance.
Madam Sirleaf’s latest call comes amid escalating geopolitical tensions in several parts of the world, including Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.
Diplomats say her message aligns with growing international appeals for collective security arrangements to address complex, cross-border crises that no single country can solve alone.