Appointment and Presentation of Credentials

Ambassador Lewis G. Brown, II was reappointed by President Joseph N. Boakai in November 2024 as Liberia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent

Representative to the United Nations. He presented his Letters of Credence to His Excellency Secretary-General António Guterres at United Nations Headquarters in New York on April 2, 2025, marking the formal start of his current tenure.

Previous UN Service and Diplomatic Roles

• First Tenure as Permanent Representative (2016–2018):
  Ambassador Brown originally served as Liberia’s Permanent Representative to the UN from June 2016 to late 2018. He presented his initial Letters of Credence to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on June 30, 2016. During this period, he also held concurrent accreditation as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Cuba and chaired the ECOWAS Ambassadors’ Group at the United Nations.
  
  
• Key Diplomatic Achievements:
  
  
• Led Liberia’s participation in high-level General Assembly debates and Security Council activities.
  
  
• Advocated for West African peace and security initiatives, drawing on his nation’s own experience with post-conflict reconstruction.
  
  
• Championed Liberia’s candidacy for various UN bodies and committees.
  
  

Ongoing Priorities and Initiatives

• UN Security Council Candidacy (2026–2027):
  In his current role, Ambassador Brown is spearheading Liberia’s campaign for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council. He highlights Liberia’s history of peacekeeping contributions, commitment to multilateral diplomacy, and its unique insights into conflict resolution and transitional justice.
  
  
• Multilateral Engagement:
  
  
• Continues to strengthen Liberia’s partnerships within ECOWAS, the African Group, and the Group of Least Developed Countries.
  
  
• Works to amplify Liberia’s voice on issues such as climate resilience, maritime security, and sustainable development.
  
  
• Promotes expanded South–South cooperation and foreign direct investment to support Liberia’s socio-economic recovery and growth.
  
  

Government Service and Leadership Experience

• Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs & Tourism:
  As Minister and Chief Spokesperson, Ambassador Brown directed government communications, promoted national policies at home and abroad, and oversaw preservation and promotion of Liberia’s cultural heritage through public-private collaborations in arts and tourism.
  
  
• Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs & National Security:
  
  
• Served as National Security Advisor, coordinating interagency policy formulation on national security matters and supervising the National Security Council secretariat.
  
  
• Acted as interim Minister of Foreign Affairs, facilitating presidential oversight of Liberia’s diplomatic relations and ensuring continuity of operations during transitional periods.
  
  
• Chief Negotiator, Accra Comprehensive Peace Conference (2003):
  Led the Liberian government’s negotiating team to achieve an inclusive political settlement that ended Liberia’s second civil war. Responsibilities included securing a ceasefire, disarmament of combatants, and establishing frameworks for Disarmament, Demobilization, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DDRR) in cooperation with regional and international partners.
  
  

Education and Professional Credentials

• Master of Science in Management, Johns Hopkins University
  
  
• Bachelor of Business Administration (Accounting emphasis), University of Liberia
  
  

Ambassador Brown’s academic background in management and accounting has underpinned his ability to coordinate complex interagency initiatives, negotiate multilateral agreements, and oversee strategic communications.

Personal Life and Community Engagement

Ambassador Brown is married to Mrs. Eleanor Melton Brown. He is an active member of his Christian faith community, and throughout his career has been involved in various civic and humanitarian initiatives, including youth mentorship programs and cultural preservation efforts.

Vision for Liberia at the United Nations

Ambassador Brown is committed to:

1. Advancing Peace and Security:
   Drawing from Liberia’s own post-conflict revival, he advocates for stronger UN engagement in conflict prevention, peacekeeping reform, and support for transitional justice mechanisms in fragile states.
   
   
2. Promoting Sustainable Development:
   Emphasizing the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to poverty eradication, education, and gender equality.
   
   
3. Enhancing Liberia’s Global Partnerships:
   Seeking to leverage multilateral platforms to attract investment, expand trade opportunities, and foster technology and knowledge transfer to accelerate Liberia’s socio-economic progress.
   
   
4. Strengthening Africa’s Voice:
   Collaborating closely with fellow African missions to ensure the continent’s priorities—such as climate resilience, public health security, and inclusive governance—remain central to UN policymaking.
   
   

Under Ambassador Brown’s leadership, the Permanent Mission of Liberia to the United Nations remains dedicated to upholding Liberia’s national interests, contributing constructively to the UN agenda, and reinforcing the bonds of solidarity among member states.