His Excellency President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has vowed to initiate plans for the proper burial of former presidents William R. Tolbert and Samuel K. Doe.
On Monday, January 27, 2025, while fulfilling his Constitutional duty to report to the National Legislature on the state of the nation, President Boakai outlined his legislative agenda, the state of the economy, and the general affairs of the Republic.
In his speech, the President invoked what he termed a moment of truth in the supreme interest of the country. He asserted that, beyond his assessment of the challenges facing the nation, certain intangibles have impelled his actions, which included an action plan to address the state of national unity, a review of the Constitution to address shortcomings in the laws, a comprehensive electoral reform to strengthen electoral process and democratic credentials, and plans for the proper burial of former presidents William R. Tolbert and Samuel K. Doe.
Presidents Tolbert and Doe are arguably among the best performing presidents in Liberian history, but were mysteriously killed and did not receive proper burial.
Tolbert was an Americo-Liberian and trained as a civil servant before entering the House of Representatives in 1943 for the True Whig Party (TWP). He was elected the 23rd Vice President of Liberia to William V.S. Tubman in 1952, and served in that position until he became president following Tubman’s death in 1971.
Tolbert’s presidency saw liberal reforms and the adoption of a non-alignment stance, but growing economic troubles and tensions between Americo-Liberians and indigenous Liberians led to instability. He was assassinated in a 1980 coup d’état by the People’s Redemption Council (PRC), led by Samuel Doe.
Unfortunately, Tolbert and others who were assassinated during the coup were buried in a mass grave at the Palm Grove Cemetery, Center Street.
Similarly, in 1990, President Doe was captured by the Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL), headed by Prince Y. Johnson. His torture was captured on video recording, in which his ears were cut off. Shackles were also placed around his legs and something strange was tied around his gland. At the end of the recording, Doe was forced to get up, some of his fingers and toes were amputated, and there were attempts to mutilate the middle finger. After 12 hours of torture at Johnson’s hands, Doe was finally murdered. Unfortunately, he, too, did not receive proper burial.
The horrible death and dishonorable burial of the two statesmen still grieve family members, sympathizers and individuals who served during their administrations. There have been unending calls for the proper burial of these leaders and other prominent individuals who were buried in mass graves.
President Boakai’s proposal to initiate plans for the proper burial of former presidents Tolbert and Doe has been warmly welcomed by several commentators and analyzers of the President’s State-of-the-Nation Address.
It is the opinion of many that giving proper burial to these two slain presidents will be the beginning of true reconciliation and national unity.
