President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., performed a deeply symbolic act of national reconciliation, signing the Book of Condolence in honor of the late President Samuel Kanyon Doe. Doe, Liberia’s 21st President, was tragically slain in September 1990 during the peak of the country’s devastating civil conflict.

The solemn ceremony unfolded at the Centennial Memorial Pavilion in Monrovia, a location chosen as the nation begins a deliberate process of honoring and reburying former heads of state who met their demise under tragic or extraordinary circumstances. This initiative is a cornerstone of President Boakai’s broader efforts to confront Liberia’s painful past and foster healing.

President Boakai, flanked by senior government officials and members of the Doe family, paid his respects, expressing profound sympathy for the enduring pain and loss suffered by the family, the people of Grand Gedeh County (President Doe’s home region), and the entire nation.

In brief remarks following the signing, President Boakai stated that this gesture is an integral part of a wider national reconciliation and historical reckoning. He emphasized that acknowledging the complexities of the past, no matter how painful or controversial, is absolutely critical to achieving genuine healing and unity within the nation.

“Today, we honor the memory of President Samuel Kanyon Doe not only as a former Head of State but as a son of Liberia whose life and leadership, though considered controversial by some, played a significant role in shaping our history,” President Boakai stated. He concluded by expressing his hope that “this gesture serve as a step toward reconciliation, peace, and national cohesion.”

President Doe, who led Liberia from 1980 to 1990, made history as the country’s first indigenous leader to assume the presidency, coming to power through a military coup. His decade-long rule remains one of the most pivotal and intensely debated periods in Liberia’s modern political history.

By: TPA News Desk | editor@thepointafricanews.com