By: David S. Johnson – Staff Reporter | TPA News Desk | Monrovia

A profound silence settled over the Centennial Pavilion in Monrovia on Saturday as President Joseph Nyuma Boakai stood before a nation still burdened by its past. In a moment many Liberians described as long overdue, President Boakai addressed the deep wounds of the civil wars. This extraordinary address unfolded during the country’s first official National Healing, Reconciliation and Unity Day, an occasion marked by quiet reflection, collective prayer, and the poignant reburials of two former presidents whose violent deaths had become enduring symbols of the nation’s turbulent history.

“This memorial, decades after his tragic death, is not simply a ceremonial gesture. It is an act of national conscience,” President Boakai declared, his words resonating with deliberate calm across the assembled crowd of government officials, civil society actors, and citizens. He added that it was “a moment to restore dignity, to acknowledge historical wrongs, and to reaffirm our collective commitment to truth, justice, and reconciliation.” For some Liberians present, this acknowledgment offered a measure of closure, a long-sought validation of their pain. Yet, for others, the President’s deeply personal, yet politically significant, gesture served as a stark reminder of the persistent divide between national rhetoric and the pace of systemic reform.

The presidential gesture drew widespread appreciation, particularly from the families of victims and religious leaders who have tirelessly advocated for healing. However, critics swiftly articulated a cautious view, arguing that words alone cannot fully mend Liberia’s deep-seated scars. Bishop Kortu Brown, a prominent clergy figure, hailed the reburials and the official day of mourning as “a good first step” towards national reconciliation. However, he consistently emphasized that genuine reconciliation necessitates concrete accountability for past transgressions, advocating for addressing “the culture of impunity” in Liberia.

The pursuit of justice in Liberia has been a protracted journey. In 2024, Liberia’s legislature approved the long-sought establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court. More than a year has passed since that legislative endorsement, yet visible progress in operationalizing the court, appointing prosecutors, or commencing investigations remains elusive. Civil society groups, long-time advocates for accountability, have expressed growing impatience over the apparent delays.

Hassan Bility, director of the Global Justice and Research Project, an organization deeply involved with survivors and international human rights bodies, has consistently articulated that victims primarily seek justice rather than solely ceremonial events. He has long maintained that without justice for war crimes, there can be no lasting peace in Liberia.

President Boakai’s public acknowledgment holds historic weight, marking a significant moment from a sitting Liberian head of state. As expectations rise, with both the international community observing and Liberians demanding decisive follow-through, the administration now stands at a critical juncture. It faces a clear choice: either to seize this moment to institutionalize truth, justice, and comprehensive reconciliation, or to risk allowing a National Healing Day to recede into yet another symbolic ritual without lasting impact.

For now, the President’s words have stirred a complex mix of emotion and cautious optimism across the nation. Yet, in the hearts and minds of countless Liberians, a more difficult question lingers: can the nation’s profound wounds ever truly close without the justice that so many continue to seek?