ZWEDRU, GRAND GEDEH COUNTY – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., on Friday, June 27, 2025, described the reburial of former President Samuel Kanyon Doe and the burial of former First Lady Nancy Bohn Doe as a solemn act of national reconciliation and reflection, calling on Liberians to confront their history and embrace unity.
Speaking at the State Funeral Service held at Zwedru City Hall, President Boakai emphasized that the ceremony was more than a burial; it was a symbol of the nation’s maturity, a call to healing, and a step forward in confronting the painful legacies of conflict and division.
“We gather here today with solemn hearts and a shared sense of reverence,” the President said. “This is not just a burial; it is a moment of national reflection, a time to reconcile with our history, to heal from our wounds, and to remember with respect and purpose.”
President Doe, who led Liberia from 1980 until his violent death in 1990, was remembered by Boakai as a determined leader whose administration laid visible foundations in infrastructure, education, and national development. Boakai, who once served under Doe as Managing Director of the Liberia Produce and Marketing Corporation and later as Minister of Agriculture, recalled his personal experiences working alongside the late president.
“He was sometimes misunderstood, but he was always committed to improving the lives of the Liberian people,” Boakai noted.
The president said the reburial symbolizes Liberia’s readiness to confront its past with honesty and use its hard-won peace as a foundation for lasting progress. He stressed that reconciliation is not just symbolic but central to his administration’s development agenda.
“We cannot build a prosperous Liberia on broken foundations. Our future depends on unity, on confronting the past through truth, forgiveness, and a shared commitment to progress,” he said.
Boakai also paid tribute to the late Mrs. Nancy Bohn Doe, who passed away while preparing for her husband’s reburial. He remembered her as a figure of grace, strength, and quiet resilience, noting her deep devotion to her family and to Liberia.
“She stood firmly by President Doe’s side; not as a figure eclipsed, but as a light of her own,” Boakai said. “Her legacy is one of resilience, honor, and steadfast love.”
The president urged the Doe family to remain united and called on all Liberians, especially the youth, to learn from history, reject bitterness, and commit themselves to peace and national service.
“To the people of Grand Gedeh, and all Liberians across our fifteen counties, this is our time to come together. Let us reconcile. Let us heal,” he said.
As the country laid to rest two prominent figures in Liberian history, President Boakai’s message echoed a deeper national intent to foster a future rooted in unity, justice, and truth.
“May the souls of President Samuel Kanyon Doe and Mrs. Nancy B. Doe rest in perfect peace,” he concluded. “May God bless us all and save the Republic.”
