Correct, Liberia Served the UN Security Council in 1961

Claim: “Since 1961, when Liberia served a half term on the UN Security Council, and Angie Brooks Randolph served her one-year term in 1970.”

Source: Joseph N. Boakai, President, Republic of Liberia, at the 2025 SONA.

Verdict: Correct! Liberia served on the UN Security Council in 1961.

Full Text: In keeping with Article 58 of the Liberian Constitution, the President on Monday, January 27, 2025, delivered his “State of the Nation Address” to the Legislature and people of Liberia.

This marks the second address since President Boakai took over the country's affairs. In his address, President Boakai claimed that Liberia has not held any comparable global governance leadership role since Liberia's term at the United Nations Security Council in 1961 with Angie Brooks Randolph's one-year term in 1970.

The United Nations Charter established six main organs of the United Nations, including the Security Council. It gives the Security Council primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, which may meet whenever peace is threatened.

According to the Charter, the United Nations has four purposes:

to maintain international peace and security;
to develop friendly relations among nations;
to cooperate in solving international problems and in promoting respect for human rights;
and to be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations.

All members of the United Nations agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council. While other organs of the United Nations make recommendations to member states, only the Security Council has the power to make decisions that member states are then obligated to implement under the Charter.

Verification: To verify this claim, we checked the UN Security Council website to verify President Boakai’s claim. We found out that Liberia served on the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member in 1961, while Madam Randolph served a one-year term at the level of the UN General Assembly in 1970.