Liberia’s Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Ambassador Robert Kpadeh, has rallied African Member States to forge a common front as negotiations intensify over the proposed IMO Net-Zero Framework for global shipping.
Kpadeh made the call on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, while opening a special summit of African IMO Member States convened by Liberia on the margins of the ongoing IMO Intersessional Working Group plenary.
The Liberian diplomat urged African countries to move beyond individual national positions and coordinate their approach to negotiations that could have significant environmental, economic and trade implications for the continent.
His appeal comes as IMO Member States deliberate on measures designed to accelerate the reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions from international shipping, an industry at the center of global commerce and a significant source of carbon emissions.
For Kpadeh, however, Africa’s participation in the emerging global shipping regime must go beyond supporting climate action.
He stressed the need for African countries to ensure that the transition toward cleaner shipping does not place disproportionate economic burdens on developing nations or undermine their development priorities.
“Africa must speak with a coordinated voice,” was the central message of the summit, as Liberia sought to strengthen continental solidarity ahead of further negotiations on the proposed framework.
Liberia presented a comprehensive proposal outlining what it considers a reasonable pathway toward a just and equitable energy transition.
The proposal takes into account Africa’s economic realities, development needs and the potential consequences of new maritime measures for African trade and shipping interests.
The summit provided African Member States with an opportunity to exchange views, identify areas of common interest and work toward a collective negotiating position.
Kpadeh emphasized that decisions taken at the IMO could have consequences extending well beyond the maritime sector, potentially affecting the cost of international trade, access to markets, shipping operations and the broader economic prospects of developing countries.
The proposed Net-Zero Framework is part of the IMO’s wider effort to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions from international shipping and move the industry toward net-zero emissions.
But the transition is expected to require major investments in cleaner fuels, technologies, vessels and maritime infrastructure, areas that could present significant challenges for developing economies.
That reality has placed equity at the center of Liberia’s diplomatic push.
The Liberian-led summit sought to ensure that African concerns are incorporated into the international negotiations rather than addressed only after major decisions have been reached.
Kpadeh’s intervention also highlights Liberia’s growing engagement in global maritime policymaking and its determination to use its position within the IMO to advance both national and continental interests.
For Liberia, the stakes are particularly important given the country’s prominent role in international shipping.
The country has therefore positioned itself not only as a participant in the Net-Zero debate but also as a convener of African voices seeking greater influence over the direction of global maritime regulation.
The September 1 summit could consequently mark an important step toward greater African coordination at the IMO.
Whether that unity can be sustained throughout the negotiations and ultimately influence the final shape of the Net-Zero Framework will depend on the ability of African Member States to maintain a common position despite differences in their individual economic and maritime circumstances.
For now, Kpadeh is making the case that Africa’s voice must be heard collectively.
The Liberian diplomat reaffirmed his commitment to representing Liberia’s interests while contributing to a stronger African position at the international maritime forum.
“Duty Honors Country!” Kpadeh declared.
