Monrovia – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. is expected to travel to Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County later this month to attend a historic national ceremony marking the reburial of former President Samuel Kanyon Doe and the funeral and interment of former First Lady Nancy Bohn Doe, who recently passed away in Monrovia.
President Boakai made the announcement during a courtesy visit by members of the Doe family at his residence in the Rehab Community. He underscored the importance of honoring former national leaders with dignity and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to healing, reconciliation, and national unity.
“This moment is not just about honoring the lives and service of two prominent Liberians,” President Boakai said. “It is about taking meaningful steps toward healing the deep wounds of our past, promoting reconciliation, and strengthening the bonds of national unity.”
The President called on Liberians to use the solemn occasion as an opportunity to reflect on the country’s divisions and work collectively toward lasting peace and cohesion.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Ms. Veronica Mamie Doe, daughter of the late President and First Lady, expressed gratitude to President Boakai for his compassion, support, and leadership during their time of mourning. She also briefed the President on preparations for the ceremony, scheduled for late June 2025 in Zwedru.
Ms. Doe was accompanied by her brother, Mr. Fallah Varney Doe, and their uncle, Mr. Isaac W. Nyenabo, former Grand Gedeh County Senator and former President Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate.
President Boakai, who served as Minister of Agriculture under the Doe administration in the 1980s, reflected warmly on his personal and professional relationship with the late President and First Lady. As a gesture of solidarity, he donated five cows to support the upcoming ceremonies in Zwedru.
The initiative aligns with a commitment President Boakai made during his State of the Nation Address on January 27, 2025, to ensure dignified reburials for former Presidents William R. Tolbert, Jr. and Samuel K. Doe.
On February 19, 2025, the President established a National Committee for the Reburial of Former Presidents, chaired by Minister of Education Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah. The committee has since been working closely with both the Doe and Tolbert families in preparation for the upcoming events.
Former President Samuel K. Doe came to power on April 12, 1980, through a military coup and led Liberia until September 1990, when he was captured and killed by rebel forces of the Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL) during the early years of the civil war.
The upcoming ceremonies are expected to serve as a significant milestone in Liberia’s ongoing journey toward reconciliation and historical reckoning.
