In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Clarence Moniba, Liberian Presidential Candidate, Head of Liberian National Union (LINU), discuss Liberia’s future and political and economic trends in West Africa on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.
This perspective from a Liberian presidential candidate sheds light on challenges facing West Africa. Hoover senior fellow H.R. McMaster hosts Dr. Clarence Moniba to discuss pressing issues of governance and security on the African continent.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Dr. Clarence K. Moniba, is a Liberian politician, head of the Liberian National Union, and a candidate in the 2023 Liberian presidential elections. He served as the country’s youngest minister of state without portfolio as well as the youngest person to serve as chairman of the board of the Liberia Electricity Corporation. Previously, Dr. Moniba was a professional American football player in the Arena League. He holds a master’s degree from Harvard University’s Kennedy School and a PhD from New Mexico State University. Dr. Moniba is the youngest son of Liberia’s former vice president, Dr. Harry F. Moniba, and founder of the Moniba Foundation.
H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. He was the 25th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.
ABOUT THE SERIES
Battlegrounds provides a needed forum with leaders from key countries to share their assessment of problem sets and opportunities that have implications for U.S. foreign policy and national security strategy. Each episode features H.R. McMaster in a one-on-one conversation with a senior foreign government leader to allow Americans and partners abroad to understand how the past produced the present and how we might work together to secure a peaceful and prosperous future. “Listening and learning from those who have deep knowledge of our most crucial challenges is the first step in crafting the policies we need to secure peace and prosperity for future generations.”
For more information, visit: https://www.hoover.org/battlegrounds_perspectives.
Pick up a copy of “Battlegrounds: The Fight To Defend The Free World,” by H.R. McMaster here – https://www.hoover.org/research/battlegrounds-fight-defend-free-world.
0:00 Introduction to Dr. Clarence Moniba, Liberian Presidential Candidate
1:31 An Overview of Liberian History
6:39 Dr. Moniba’s vision for Liberia
12:34 Healthcare improvements in Liberia
17:32 Navigating Libera’s diversity, traditions and history
25:14 Strengths and weaknesses of aid efforts in Liberia
33:37 Effects of regional dynamics on politics
38:09 Internal and external challenges
42:10 Dr. Moniba’s motivations and making a difference in Liberia
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