MONROVIA – In a moving tribute to the shared struggles and deep-rooted ties between Liberia and Sierra Leone, President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone delivered a powerful address during Liberia’s 178th Independence Day celebration held on Saturday, July 26, 2025, under the theme: “One People, One Destiny: Healing the Past, Building the Future.”
President Bio’s remarks, delivered before President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, fellow West African leaders, diplomats, and the Liberian people, struck a deeply emotional and historical tone. Recalling his own days as a young military officer in Liberia during the civil war, Bio said he had not come merely as a head of state but as “a friend and brother.” He reflected on walking the streets of White Plains, Gardnersville, and the Freeport of Monrovia as part of the ECOMOG peacekeeping forces, not in a motorcade, but in a convoy dedicated to restoring peace.
The Sierra Leonean leader described his journey back into Monrovia as a “homecoming,” laden with memories of a painful era. He honored the Sierra Leonean soldiers who fought and fell in Liberia not for conquest but in defense of a shared African ideal, that no nation in the region should face war alone. “We did not hesitate,” Bio declared. “Our soldiers came not to conquer, but to serve.”
President Bio’s speech highlighted the resilience of the Liberian people, calling their 178-year journey a story of rebirth and strength in the face of unimaginable hardship. “Even in despair, Liberia carried within her a quiet dignity and a deep yearning to be whole again,” he said, noting that every visit reaffirms the nation’s refusal to be broken.
With personal reverence and regional urgency, Bio emphasized the value of peace, not as an abstract idea but as the foundation of democratic life, economic progress, and cultural thriving. He reminded the audience that peace must be guarded vigilantly and must never be taken for granted. “Peace is the presence of dignity,” he said, “what allows our children to learn, our traders to trade, and our democracies to flourish.”
President Bio also invoked the kinship between the peoples of Liberia and Sierra Leone, stressing their shared ancestry, languages, and values. He pointed out that when Liberia suffered, Sierra Leone mourned too, and when Sierra Leone bled, Liberia felt the wound. “We are twin souls,” he said. “Our rivers flow into each other. Our songs speak of shared joys and common grief.”
Turning to governance and democracy, Bio lauded Liberia’s peaceful transfer of power since the end of its civil war and urged all West African nations to uphold democracy not merely through ballots but through inclusive governance and accountable leadership. “Democracy cannot thrive without peace. And peace cannot last where democracy is hollow,” he cautioned.
Speaking as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Bio called for renewed commitment to regional cooperation beyond times of crisis. He challenged leaders to build legal and safe avenues for youth mobility, strengthen trade frameworks, and make the Mano River Union a tangible tool for solidarity, not just a bureaucratic ideal.
President Bio’s address ended on an inspirational note, urging Liberians, especially the youth, to honor the sacrifices made for their freedom. “Your freedom was purchased at great cost. Honour it in every choice you make,” he said.
He praised President Boakai for his wisdom and friendship and thanked the Liberian people for their warmth and resilience. “Peace is not only possible, it is powerful,” he concluded, calling for continued unity between Liberia and Sierra Leone as the two nations work toward healing the past and building a shared future.
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