Executive Mansion, Monrovia– President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, led a ceremony dedicating a newly constructed Memorial Site in honor of the late President William Richard Tolbert, Jr. and the 13 government officials who were brutally executed following the April 12, 1980 military coup.
The dedication took place at the Liberian Baptist Theological Seminary in Paynesville, where the mausoleum now stands as a national symbol of remembrance, reconciliation, and renewed commitment to justice and peace.
The event was attended by an array of dignitaries, including former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, First Lady Mrs. Kartumu Y. Boakai, the Speaker, Senate Pro-temp and members of the National Legislature, government officials, members of the clergy, representatives of the diplomatic corps, representation of the Doe family and the bereaved families of the fallen statesmen.
In his message, President Boakai described the dedication as “a national duty and an act of moral restitution,” emphasizing that remembering the painful chapters of Liberia’s history is essential to healing and building a more united future.
“This memorial is not just for those whose lives were taken—it is a tribute to the democratic ideals for which they stood,” President Boakai said. “Their memories will forever inspire our journey toward a more just, peaceful, and accountable nation.” He added.
The ceremony also featured prayers and tributes from the Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention, survivors, and descendants of the fallen officials. The names of the 13 slain cabinet officials and others killed were etched into the memorial, and a moment of silence was observed in their honor. There was also the symbolic handing over of the Flag of Liberia to the families of the deceased by the Armed Forces of Liberia and the laying of wreaths on the monument honoring the deceased.
The establishment of the memorial in concert with the families and the April 22nd Memorial Group is part of President Boakai’s ongoing commitment to national reconciliation, transitional justice, and acknowledgment of Liberia’s complex history. It also follows a series of symbolic acts undertaken by the administration,
including the reburials of former Presidents and the official observance of national days of remembrance.
The Chairperson of the Presidential Reburial Committee, Dr. Jarso Marley Jallah extended profound gratitude to the Tolbert family, the Baptist Theological Seminary, and all stakeholders who contributed to the realization of this historic initiative.
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