By: Kruah Thompson
In a continued effort to unify the nation and promote peace, the Government of Liberia, through the National Reburial and Reconciliation Committee, will host a one-day event titled the National Healing and Reconciliation Program this Saturday, July 5, 2025, at the Ministerial Complex in Congo Town.
The initiative, which comes as part of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s mandate to foster national unity, is aimed at honoring victims of Liberia’s prolonged civil wars by collecting the names of those who lost their lives and were never properly laid to rest.
Families who were unable to bury their loved ones due to the devastating circumstances of the conflict will now have an opportunity to reflect, mourn, and remember them in a dignified manner.
The Chairperson of the National Reburial and Reconciliation Committee, Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah, who also serves as the Minister of Education, disclosed the plans during the Ministry of Information’s regular press briefing on Thursday, July 3, 2025.
Speaking on the occasion, she noted that the event is designed to set a new path for national healing and reconciliation, bringing together former Presidents, members of the Executive, Legislature, Judiciary, civil society, the diplomatic corps, students, youth, women’s groups, and ordinary citizens.
“This program is about collective healing,” Dr. Jallah said. “We want to honor those who perished, reflect on our painful past, and begin to build a future rooted in unity and peace. Until we heal, we cannot fully move forward as a nation.”
She added that although the committee faced some internal challenges during its work, all members remained focused on delivering the president’s mandate.
“Healing and reconciliation are complex processes,” she stated, “but they are necessary if we are to become a truly united and reconciled nation.”
The July 5 event will mark the first phase of the broader national reconciliation effort. It follows the committee’s earlier mandate to oversee the reburial of former Presidents William R. Tolbert Jr. and Samuel K. Doe, a move also aimed at promoting national unity.
Dr. Jallah emphasized that while the reburials were a significant step, they alone could not address the deep trauma experienced by many Liberians, and As a result, the committee recommended a national reconciliation and healing initiative, which President Boakai fully endorsed and supported.
The program will also be observed across various counties in Liberia, allowing communities nationwide to participate in the remembrance.
The keynote speaker for the event will be Rev. Dr. Antoine Witherspoon Cesare, an internationally recognized expert in healing and reconciliation.
“We encourage every Liberian to attend,” Dr. Jallah urged. “This is a time for reflection, a time to honor our past, and a time to commit to a peaceful future,” she closes.
