Monrovia, Liberia – At the historic Centennial Memorial Pavilion in Monrovia, President Joseph N. Boakai and a number of prominent officials signed the book of condolence for the late former president of Liberia, Samuel Kanyon Doe. Along with a formal delegation, President Boakai arrived at the Pavilion in the late hours of the morning to honor the former head of state, who was slain in 1990 at the height of Liberia’s civil war.
Members of the Doe family, government representatives, and other supporters attended the solemn ceremony. In a brief interview with reporters during the June 24, 2025, signing ceremony, President Boakai referred to the late President Doe as “a central figure in Liberia’s complex history” and urged the nation to reflect on its history in order to fortify peace and reconciliation.
He stated, “Today, we remember a man who played a significant role in shaping the course of our nation’s political history, regardless of the controversies of his time. We pay tribute to his memory and offer our sincere condolences to his family.”
Nearly thirty-five years after the terrible chapter that resulted in Doe’s execution, the signing coincides with fresh attempts by the Boakai administration to foster national unity and reconciliation. Throughout the week, the book of condolence will be accessible to the public, enabling both citizens and dignitaries to honor the late president.
Decades of Americo-Liberian political domination came to an end in 1980 when the late President Doe was overthrown in a military coup. He was elected as Liberia’s twenty-first president and in office until 1990, when the country’s first civil war resulted to his detention and murder.
The Doe family thanked the president for the gesture, calling it a step toward national recognition and healing.
