Monrovia, Liberia – President Joseph N. Boakai has highlighted major goals for national renewal, justice, diaspora involvement, and reconciliation in his address to the country and the Legislature. According to him, Liberia is becoming more powerful, confident, and unified.
On Monday, January 26, 2026, President Boakai told lawmakers, the judiciary, Cabinet officials, and national leaders that his administration is actively tackling Liberia’s challenging history while laying a strong foundation for inclusive development and long-term peace.
“A nation that refuses to reconcile fears its own progress, healing and justice must go hand in hand.”
Boakai revealed that the United Nations Security Council has acknowledged Liberia’s peace and early-warning systems as excellent in identifying possible outbursts of violence, harassment, and intimidation. This was one of the speech’s main highlights.
According to him, maintaining peace and stability in the area will depend heavily on the Mano River Union Provincial Center. The President emphasized the importance of the Liberian diaspora, referring to Liberians living overseas as “a vital national asset” rather than just family.
The Liberian leader made plans to improve diaspora participation in the wake of the first Liberian Diaspora Conference in Washington, D.C., during his speech. One such plan is the creation of a Diaspora Commission, which will shortly be presented to the Legislature.
According to Boakai, his government recognizes the trend of diaspora Liberians coming back to invest in infrastructure, agriculture, health, education, technology, and housing through the Year of Return initiative. He pledged to keep working to secure justice for individuals impacted by the losses experienced by members of the diaspora in housing developments like the Millennium Estate Housing Project.
The President listed specific actions already made toward national reconciliation, such as the Legislature’s official apologies for its involvement in Liberia’s conflict and the respectable reburial of former Presidents William R. Tolbert Jr. and Samuel K. Doe Sr. He revealed that the Office of the War and Economic Crimes Court had finished draft legal frameworks for legislative review and reiterated his commitment to putting the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s major recommendations into practice.
“Reconciliation does not mean forgetting, and it does not mean abandoning justice, adding that accountability remains essential for lasting peace,” Boakai added.
He reiterated his appeal for political inclusivity and offered opposition leaders a helping hand in creating a cohesive, forward-thinking government. The President also led the country in paying tribute to a number of notable Liberians who passed away in the year under review, including statesmen, academics, former ministers, senators, and diplomats. He stated that a complete list would be formally released.
With an eye toward the future, President Boakai declared that he will take immediate action to resolve long-standing national issues.
He stated that it entails a thorough examination of Liberia’s concession framework to address historical injustices, the long-overdue relocation of Pine Grove Cemetery as a matter of national honor, the restoration of dilapidated public buildings throughout the nation, and the orderly layout of Monrovia and major cities in accordance with decentralization and the new zoning law.
Additionally, according to President Boakai, Liberia is at a turning point in its history. He warned against complacency, emphasizing that leadership should be based on service and humility rather than privilege.
“We are here to serve the Liberian people, not to serve ourselves, urging all branches of government to act in the supreme interest of the nation,” he said.
