The Ministry of Internal Affairs has reaffirmed its commitment to national unity and post-war healing, following the official launch of the National Healing, Reconciliation and Unity Program by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. on July 5, 2025.
Speaking during a press conference, the Internal Affairs Minister, Francis Sakila Nyumalin, underscored the critical role the new initiative plays in addressing Liberia’s painful past and fostering sustainable peace and development.
“Recognizing that Liberia’s development and prosperity depend on confronting and closing the legacies of the civil wars, the President has taken bold and practical steps that mark a crucial turning point for our country,” the Minister stated.
Among the key measures announced by the President were the official launch of the National Healing, Reconciliation and Unity Program; a National Apology to civil war victims; implementation of the Strategic Roadmap for National Healing, Peacebuilding and Reconciliation; activation of a National Memorial and Palava Hut System; facilitation of the transfer of Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) archives from the U.S. to Liberia; and the reburial of former Presidents William R. Tolbert, Jr. and Samuel K. Doe.
These steps align with the recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Final Report submitted in 2009, which contained 207 recommendations. The TRC was a key component of the 2003 Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended Liberia’s 14-year civil conflict.
Minister Nyumalin acknowledged that implementation of the TRC recommendations has been slow due to limited political will and financial constraints. However, with renewed focus, the government aims to reinvigorate national reconciliation efforts through the 18-year Strategic Roadmap (2013–2030), first introduced under former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
To build on this momentum, the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced several key actions. It will strengthen institutional coordination by seeking the President’s endorsement to activate a National Reconciliation Steering Committee to provide policy direction and oversee all reconciliation initiatives. This committee will include relevant government institutions, civil society actors, and traditional leaders.
Broad stakeholder engagements will be held to design a National Memorial Park and War Museum, tentatively proposed for Palm Grove Cemetery. Consultations will involve local chiefs, elders, religious leaders, youth and women groups, people living with disabilities, and civil society actors. International partners such as the UNDP, ECOWAS, and the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office will be engaged for support and funding.
A Technical Committee has been constituted to support the implementation of the initiative. It includes the Liberia Peacebuilding Office, Office of the National Peace Ambassador, Independent National Commission on Human Rights, Governance Commission, Law Reform Commission, Office of the War and Economic Crimes Court, and various civil society organizations.
Others institutions supporting the effort include the National Council of Chiefs Support Office, UNDP and UN human rights bodies, the International Organization for Migration, Diaspora offices under the Ministry of State and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.
This committee will design the national consultations, develop a resource mobilization strategy, and provide technical backing for both the National Reconciliation Steering Committee and the proposed Independent National Reconciliation Council.
The Minister concluded by emphasizing the role of the media and civil society in ensuring public awareness and transparency. “We shall work closely with the media to implement these activities. This is a national call to action and together, we must turn the page and heal our nation.
