By Socrates Smythe Saywon | Smart News Liberia
MONROVIA – The Liberian government under President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has formally requested the recall of European Union Ambassador to Liberia, H.E. Nona Deprez, accusing her of making remarks that allegedly undermine the country’s leadership, erode investor confidence, and threaten one of Liberia’s most significant diplomatic relationships.
In a communication addressed to the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, headed by Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti, outlined what it described as “serious concerns” regarding Ambassador Deprez’s conduct during engagements with government officials and international investors.
The March 6, 2026 letter, signed by Acting Foreign Minister Amb. Ethel Davis, acknowledges the longstanding relationship between Liberia and the European Union but argues that recent actions attributed to the EU envoy have crossed diplomatic boundaries.
The government claims that Ambassador Deprez made derogatory comments about Liberia’s leadership and institutions during both official interactions and private discussions with investors and stakeholders. According to the Foreign Ministry, those comments were reported through multiple channels and have raised alarm within the government.
“These comments,” the Ministry wrote, “misrepresent the functioning of the Government of Liberia and risk undermining its reputation in diplomatic and investment circles.”
At the center of the dispute are allegations that Ambassador Deprez made controversial assertions during the Liberia-EU Business Forum held in Brussels in February 2026. According to the government, the EU envoy allegedly told a prominent investor that Liberia’s Vice President was exercising authority beyond his constitutional responsibilities and exerting influence over the mining and energy sectors through the newly appointed Minister of Mines and Energy.
The allegations become even more sensitive in relation to claims involving President Joseph Boakai’s administration. The Foreign Ministry accused Ambassador Deprez of repeatedly suggesting that the presidency lacked transparency because the President’s Annual Message did not include all projects being implemented by the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC).
Government officials said they explained to the ambassador that no annual presidential address could reasonably catalogue every government project or achievement. Nevertheless, the Ministry alleged that she continued to repeat the narrative to government officials and investors both in Liberia and abroad.
The letter describes those remarks as “wrong” and “insulting to the presidency,” arguing that they project an inaccurate image of governance in Liberia at a time when the country is seeking to attract foreign investment and strengthen international partnerships.
The government further accused Ambassador Deprez of casting doubt on the future of the Liberia-EU Business Forum itself. According to the letter, she allegedly informed a government official that the recently concluded Brussels forum would be the “first and last” of its kind.
The Boakai administration appeared particularly concerned by the alleged remark, saying it contradicted assurances from other European Union officials who reportedly considered the forum successful and expressed support for future editions, including a potential event in Monrovia.
For a government aggressively pursuing foreign direct investment and economic growth, such comments are viewed as particularly damaging. Officials fear that negative statements from a senior diplomat representing one of Liberia’s largest development partners could influence investor perceptions and weaken confidence in the country’s economic direction.
The Foreign Ministry’s letter reveals that the government considered taking the extraordinary diplomatic step of declaring Ambassador Deprez persona non grata, a designation that would effectively force her departure from the country.
However, Liberia ultimately chose not to pursue that route.
Instead, the government said it was seeking a less confrontational solution in order to preserve the broader relationship between Liberia and the European Union, which has been built over decades of cooperation in governance, development, democracy, and peacebuilding.
“The Government of Liberia notes that the conduct of Ambassador Deprez is of such a nature that it could warrant her declaration as persona non grata,” the letter stated. “However, in keeping with its firm commitment to preserving the cordial and productive relations that have long characterized the partnership between Liberia and the European Union, the Government has opted not to pursue that course of action.”
Rather, Liberia is requesting that the European Union recall Ambassador Deprez for consultations, prevent her from engaging further with Liberian officials and investors, and appoint a replacement without delay.
The unusual diplomatic dispute comes at a delicate moment for Liberia, which recently secured a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council and has been seeking to project itself as a stable and attractive destination for international investment.
It also raises fresh questions about the state of relations between the Boakai administration and some international partners, particularly as concerns over governance, transparency, and economic management increasingly intersect with Liberia’s efforts to attract foreign capital.
As of now, the European Union has not publicly responded to the allegations contained in the Foreign Ministry’s letter. Whether Brussels will honor Liberia’s request remains uncertain, but the episode has already emerged as one of the most significant diplomatic controversies confronting the Boakai administration in 2026.
