The Liberian government has taken a historic step toward national reconciliation by establishing a committee to oversee the reburial of former Presidents William R. Tolbert, Jr. and Samuel Kanyon Doe.
The move, announced by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai during his Annual Message on January 27, 2025, seeks to provide dignified burials for the two former leaders and members of Tolbert’s Cabinet who were executed in April 1980.
The initiative is part of a broader effort to heal wounds from Liberia’s turbulent past and bring closure to decades-old grievances. President Tolbert was overthrown and killed during the 1980 coup led by Master Sergeant Samuel Doe, who himself was brutally murdered a decade later during the Liberian civil war. According to the government, the proper reburial of both leaders is a necessary step toward fostering unity and reconciliation.
A National Committee has been constituted to oversee the process, with Minister of Education Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah appointed as chairperson. Other members include prominent religious leaders such as The Right Reverend James B. Sellee and Bishop Samuel J. Quire and political figures including Senators Zoe Pennue and Abraham Darius Dillon. Also named to the committee are former Chief Justice Cllr. Gloria Musu Scott, Brigadier General Davidson Fayiah Forleh, and senior statesmen Benoni Urey and John T. Richardson.
Dr. Jallah, an experienced public administrator and academic, is expected to lead the committee in designing and executing a plan that ensures the reburials are conducted with dignity. With a background in educational leadership and governance, she brings over two decades of experience in strategic planning and public service.
The government has emphasized that this reburial effort is more than a symbolic gesture. It is a deliberate act of national healing to address historical injustices and promote dialogue among Liberians. The decision reflects an acknowledgment of the country’s complex history and the need to unite.
